Let America Be America Again By Langston Hughes: Poem Analysis

Introduction The stories of the founding of the United States is legendary in many regards. History places it that America was found by a group of farmers who had local political experience. This group came together in one accord and in arms to go against the monarch and tyrant to become a self-governed state. In the words of these men, “all men are created equal,” a phrase that natural elicited men and women to risk their lives for freedom .

In reality, even America’s pastime, its most treasured sport, contains the same illusion of color-blind equality that existed across society. Henry’s undying belief that he has an equal opportunity of making The Stars is starkly contrasted with Mack’s unwavering cynicism. After Henry explains how he is waiting for his invitation from The Stars, Mack attempts to show him the flaw in his belief: “Dude, can’t you see they’re bullshittin’ you? Seen it happen a million times. Same ol’ same ol’.

America is a symbol of freedom. The poems “I, Too, Sing America” by Langston Hughes and “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou both describe how America was rather unfair during their times. Langston Hughes was a key figure during the Harlem Renaissance and Maya Angelou did not become famous or recognized until her first autobiography. Even though “I, Too, Sing America” and “Still I Rise” have completely different tones, they both convey the message of how inequality was prevalent in America. Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou both talk about how in the future they will come back and be free.

Poetry Essay In this poem “ Let America Be America Again ” Langston Hughes write about what he feel about the America to him. He was born in February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. He says America not like the past anymore

all separate from their white counterparts. The poems last line varies from its first line because at the end he says “I, too, am America” and initially he says “I, too, sing America” it 's kind of a patriotic and bold moment at the end. To say that he too sings america shows that he isn 't against america, but more like a supporter. It means he fully is dedicated to the harmonious ways you can ratify america. First off, eating in the kitchen suggest to the reader that this is during a time of segregation.

On November 10th 1963 Malcom X ( Muslim Civil Rights Activist) delivered a speech to many African Americans attending the Northern Negro Grass Roots Conference. This speech would help in the fight for African American rights. Here Malcom X demonstrated how African Americans were being oppressed and directly exposed racism. This speech is important to history because it began to encourage people to act instead of wait. In Malcom X's speech he wants to encourage African Americans to stand up for themselves and he is also stating action needs to be taken.

David Spencer writes a brilliant book titled “We Shall Not Be Moved” which includes a chapter about the use of black spirituals in the United States south. Spencer explains how “Africans sang of their experiences as slaves and infused them with messages of Christian redemption in the thousands of songs they created for themselves, known collectively as spirituals.” Spencer continues by explaining how the topics of spirituals included the horrors of racial exploitation and messages of liberation associated with their masters’ Protestant Christian views. M. Shawn Copeland argues that “on plantations, religion was the sphere in which the enslaved Africans were able to exercise some measure of autonomy and freedom.” He claims that slaves would risk punishment for freedom in religion as they regularly held independent and unsupervised worship services.

Try as one may, it is hard to convince blacks that the national anthem was written with them in mind. Francis Scott Key’s nearness to slavery, and his limited view of freedom and equality, makes it impossible to separate him from his own distasteful words. While the national anthem celebrates the victory of America over the British and is patriotic in that sense, the 3rd stanza serves as a reminder of the ugly legacy of black slavery. It forces blacks to raise the age old question: Am I truly free? Is America the land of the free?

The Expectations Of A Free America America has always been perceived as a land of opportunity and freedom for the many immigrants who traveled to this wide unknown land. America seemed to be consistent in becoming a country where everyone was accepted however, this was contrary for African Americans. After America gained independence and slavery was abolished, the divide between Whites and African Americans still stood. Many African Americans were not given favor for jobs, schooling, and many other opportunities. This journey of pain and perseverance is portrayed through the Langston Hughes poem, “ Let America Be America.”

It craved a tapestry of exposing social issues that white America would never shed light on. According to rapper Mos Def in his 1999 manifesto, Fear Not of Man, he says “Me, you, everybody – we are hip-hop,” suggesting that hip-hop music no longer represents solely the voice of the black community, instead, hip-hop now represents all those who partake in or promote hip-hop culture whether male or female, rich or poor, black or white, American or foreign, and so on. (Mos Def, 1999)” This will ensure that if anyone to one this topic, remember “Hip-Hop/Rap music is

“There’s never been equality for me, nor freedom in this homeland of the free.” America never was America to me! Both poems were written about the American Dream and how it benefited some people, while not so much for other people and the two poets wrote about how America seemed at the time they were living. “I Hear America Singing” and “Let America be America Again” are two popular poems from history and they have their similarities.

¬¬-| It is to thee I raise my song,| Thou land of blood, and crime, and wrong” (1-4). Other writers such as Douglass, one of his admirers, write on similar topics. He lays out information about the atrocities of slavery

In Langston Hughes poem entitled “I, Too, Sing America” in line 3 he acknowledges “I am the darker brother” meaning that he was an American, but a black American indicating that there isn 't just one American. In addition to Whitman’s poem in Barack Obama’s Democratic National Convention speech in 2004 Obama emphasizes that “There’s not a black American and white America and Latin America and Asian America; there’s the United States of America”. When Obama states this he’s stating that there are many diverse cultures in

Racism has always been a popular topic throughout the course of American history. It may be arguable that African Americans have gained the equality they have fought for, and in more extreme cases, died for. Richard Wright was born after the Civil War, but before the Civil Rights Movement. If he were writing an autobiography today, in 2016, about a black boy growing up in the United States, he would write about the mass incarceration of black men, the discrepancy faced by African Americans with a college degree compared to the whites without, and the difference in wage distribution between white Americans and African Americans.

American Exceptionalism What is American Exceptionalism? This was a phrase I was not familiar with until I listened to the podcast, “City Upon a Hill: A History of America Exceptionalism” by Back Story with American History Guys. American Exceptionalism is the belief that America is special because of our history in our democracy, individuality, and geography. Also stated in Back Story, American Exceptionalism argues that we are unique for we are a god-given place in the world. The term was used optimistically by Americans.