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Langston Hughes Let America Be America Again: Poetry Analysis

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Langston Hughes uses poetry to speak on the topic of social injustice, something that he and many others view as important and that needs to be spoken about. He did this by writing three poems: “I Too”, “Democracy”, and “Let America Be America Again”. The poem “I Too" is about an African American man who is sent away into a kitchen because the house he worked for had company coming over. The man retaliates by deciding he is no longer going to leave for any company. The poem “Democracy” is about an African American man who is upset that others are telling him to be patient and wait but he is tired of waiting because he does not have the same rights as white men in America. The poem “Let America Be America Again” is about an African American …show more content…

This structure supports Hughes' purpose to show that though the man was facing unfairness he decided to not accept it and push back. The poem is an example of social injustice during the Harlem renaissance. The man in the poem is referenced as a “darker brother” but the white Americans aren’t referenced as lighter brothers they are referenced as normal civilians (i too line 2). “I Too” exemplifies the way society views African Americans, the way they are sent away because their skin is not the same pigmentation as their employers make African Americans perceived as not worthy to be in the presence of other white men. Though “I Too” exemplifies how African American men received social justice it also exemplifies having resilience and not letting their skin dictate how they are treated. In the face of these unfair experiences, he emphasizes resilience from being put down and pushed back for what is deserved. This is exposed when the African American man decides that “ Tomorrow [he’ll] be at the table when company comes.”, the man is showing his will to fight unbalanced justice (citation). Hughes shows that this man took a major step in having the justice he deserves. The man/subject just proved the point that just because he is a little darker does not mean that he does not have the same worth as a white man. The man is embracing his blackness and loving it no matter who is

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