The repetition of lines helps set the tone of the poem, which is that of authority. It enables the reader to recognize the weight of authority of contemporary African-Americans. The imagery of the river also helps in creating the tone because the reader "[knows] rivers: ancient, dusky rivers." Rivers are usually calm and we can almost feel a sense of serenity. On the other hand, rivers can also be rough and murky, which can set a tone of being bitter and angry, in which African-Americans feel because of all the unjust treatment they have endured for so long.

African-Americans have a come long way since the days of slavery. By using "I" instead "we," the speaker puts history of his own race to his own personal experiences. "I" is much more intimate and allows

Some common words found in the essay are:
Langston Hughes, Nature Hughes, Rivers African-American, Orleans I've, Langston Hughes', Negro Speaks, personal experiences, Speaks Rivers, set tone, negro speaks rivers, tone symbolism, struggles characters, langston hughes, symbol represents, speaks rivers, rivers ancient, repetition lines, negro speaks,
Approximate Word count = 522
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)