African American History in the Poems of Langston Hughes...

African American History in the Poems of Langston Hughes Langston Hughes was an African American poet who was one of the first black voices to be heard in America. He was distinct among his contemporaries with his writing about the blacks experiences and history. His pride of his race and history was apparent in most of his works. In his poem, The Negro Speaks of Rivers his pride of his history and civilization is apparent by the repetition of the pronoun I in most of the lines. He is proud that his roots go back to the ancient civilizations which where associated with the great Rivers of Asia and Africa namely the Euphrates, the Nile and the Congo. Hughes repeats, Ive known rivers which indicates the connection of†¦show more content†¦It was through the black people that the American civilization was built. Since they were the ones who did all the labor in building this country, therefore it was their right to be treated with some respect, dignity and be acknowledged in society. Hughes tackled the same history of black people in his poem Mother to Son, but this time from a different perspective. It is the perspective of a mother narrating to her son her sufferings and her strength in overcoming the hardships she encountered in life. She is telling the son that life for her aint been no crystal stair/ It had tacks in it/ And splinters /And boards torn up. The life of this black mother was full of troubles, of white people mistreating her, even raping her. As she was poor and suffering from racial discrimination, she had to work in humiliating jobs in order to earn a little sum of money that does not suffice her needs. She had to be sometimes goin in the dark/ where there aint been no light. This line implies it was not she that was dark, but it was the darkness of horrible deeds of the whites that made her suffer. Nevertheless, she did not give up; instead, she kept struggling and climbing that hard stair of life. Therefore, she is advising her son and encouraging him to have hope and never give up. Since at earlier times,Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Langston Hughes And His Views On Early 20th Century African American Society Essay1717 Words   |  7 PagesLiterature 7 December 2016 Langston Hughes and His Views on Early 20th-Century African American Society When African American slaves were released from slavery following the American Civil War, the ethnic group was now able to control their own lives, and the U.S had to acknowledge their freedoms and rights as American citizens. However, despite bold beliefs from the war, many white Americans still continued to deny equality to those of color. In addition, African Americans had not expressed theirRead MoreA Prize For Poetry, International Ibsen Award You Named. Langston Hughes1058 Words   |  5 Pagesyou named. Langston Hughes is a great poet, his poems are truly inspirational, persuasive. It s almost like he was talking directly to the reader. 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