Langston Hughes on Racism and Heritage
11/24/2013
Langston Hughes on Racism and Heritage
Langston Hughes was a famous American poet, social activist, playwright, poet, and columnist. He was also considered as one of the proponents of a new type of literary art form, the so-called Jazz poetry. Furthermore, he was popular during the so-called Harlem Renaissance Period.
Langston Hughes offered a different take with respect to heritage in his work. In his works, Langston Hughes focused on the topics of enslavement and emancipation. In this regard, the desire for freedom was always at the center of the various works of Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes also writes about his experiences in battling oppression and fighting for freedom. This theme is generally evident in two of his greatest works, Harlem (A Dream Deferred) and Theme for English B. In writing these literary masterpieces, Langston Hughes employs the use of the perspective of an African American character in order to transcend the message in his works of art. It is generally with the said perspective that he was able to effectively show that whilst the culture and society of the United States of America were not yet ready to accept them, their heritage is of paramount importance in making them strong to battle oppression. Langston Hughes, most especially in his poem entitled Theme for English B emphasizes the need to eliminate ignorance that caused the discrimination against the African Americans (Okepwho, Davies and Mazrui 87).
In Theme for English B, Langston Hughes highlighted the fact that while the African American who serves as the speaker therein is the only African American in his class, his participation in class would benefit him and the other students as he would be able to learn from the latter and he could also provide his classmates with other information thereby increasing diversity, richness and truth. Without a doubt, differences as to race is of no moment as each has their own perspective which they can share to others in
Langston Hughes on Racism and Heritage
Langston Hughes was a famous American poet, social activist, playwright, poet, and columnist. He was also considered as one of the proponents of a new type of literary art form, the so-called Jazz poetry. Furthermore, he was popular during the so-called Harlem Renaissance Period.
Langston Hughes offered a different take with respect to heritage in his work. In his works, Langston Hughes focused on the topics of enslavement and emancipation. In this regard, the desire for freedom was always at the center of the various works of Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes also writes about his experiences in battling oppression and fighting for freedom. This theme is generally evident in two of his greatest works, Harlem (A Dream Deferred) and Theme for English B. In writing these literary masterpieces, Langston Hughes employs the use of the perspective of an African American character in order to transcend the message in his works of art. It is generally with the said perspective that he was able to effectively show that whilst the culture and society of the United States of America were not yet ready to accept them, their heritage is of paramount importance in making them strong to battle oppression. Langston Hughes, most especially in his poem entitled Theme for English B emphasizes the need to eliminate ignorance that caused the discrimination against the African Americans (Okepwho, Davies and Mazrui 87).
In Theme for English B, Langston Hughes highlighted the fact that while the African American who serves as the speaker therein is the only African American in his class, his participation in class would benefit him and the other students as he would be able to learn from the latter and he could also provide his classmates with other information thereby increasing diversity, richness and truth. Without a doubt, differences as to race is of no moment as each has their own perspective which they can share to others in