Theme for a Life
Langston Hughes was one of the greatest black poets, not just poet but black poet, ever to live. Langston Hughes was proud of his heritage, and he was proud of his color. He did not want the title of poet, but that of black poet. Hughes, in an essay titled "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain," speaks of black writers and poets "who surrender racial pride in the name of a false integration." He doesn't want to be mistaken for a white poet. He writes, "We younger Negro artists now intend to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame. If white people are pleased then we are glad. If they are not, it doesn't matter. We know we are beautiful. And ugly too...If colored people are pleased, we are glad. If they are not, their displeasure doesn't matter either," (The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain, p. 2). This is a constant theme expressed in his poetry. In his poem "Theme for English B" Hughes wonders "So will my page be colored that I write? / Being me, it will not be white." Hughes was a powerful black writer, who always spoke out, in a black voice to help his people through his writing. Hughes grew up in a black abolitionist family. He learned early on
"The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain", Langston Hughes. 1926. The Nation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ began to build their own temples; from the same starting point as Hughes. That starting point was the confidence and faith in themselves and their people. that's true!" (Theme for English B). Hughes sees that we are all connected; that once upon a time we were all just immigrants here. "For I'm the one who left dark Ireland's shore / And Poland's plain, and England's grassy lea / And torn from Black Africa's strand I came," (Let America Be America Again), "Being me it will not be white. / But it will be/ a part of you, instructor. / You are white-- / yet a part of me, as I am a part of you. / That's American," (Theme for English B). Hughes was very much into the jazz scene. He spent a lot of time in clubs listening to jazz and blues. From these experiences he wrote the series of poems "The Weary Blues." The beat of many of his poems follows that of a blues song. "I got the Weary Blues / And I can't be satisfied-- / I ain't happy no mo' / And I wish that I had died." (The Weary Blues) "Hear dat music... / Jungle night. / Hear dat music... / And the moon was white." (To Midnight Nan at Leroy's) "Shake that thing! O! / Shake it slow! / That man I love is / Mean an' low." (Rent-Party Shout: For a Lady Dancer). "Langston Hughes." Trussell, Jeff. Online. Internet. 9 April 1999. Racism was rampant; many people still wanted to keep blacks as second class citizens. Instead of hating whites or letting it bring him down; Hughes used it in his work. "I am the only colored student in my class," (Theme for English B), "Man threatens landlord/Tenant held no bail/Judge gives Negro 90 days in
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1209
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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