The theme that is apparent throughout “Let American Be America Again,” is that even though America is supposed to be the land of the free, it has never really provided this golden opportunity to everyone. In fact, Langston Hughes seems to imply that America oppressed many groups of people and has never really represented those ideals in the first place, except for a certain group of people, the wealthy. Through the use of the literary elements of poems, we’ll explore the true meaning the author seems to portray. Exploring “Let America Be America Again” using point of view, there are two distinct points of view. In one hand, you have the oppressive force in America, proclaiming the glory of the nation, and how the opportunities are endless …show more content…
They all seek the opportunities of the free land, the unalienable rights, but have never experienced these rights. Meanwhile, the ignorant voice is complaining about problems and hoping America will be “free” again. So, with all the talks of freedom and equality, the voice can be finally heard and seems fed up with the complaints. The voice says “The free? Who said the free? Not me? Surely not me?,” which again implies that the oppression prevents these people from obtaining these freedoms. Another tone that is present, is a hopeful tone after explaining their situation and their plights. Hughes (1936) illustrates this point …show more content…
Freedom is not free, and in order to be a part of the group that does have freedoms, hard work and sacrifices are required to obtain these ideals. Another element that is present within Langston Hughes poem “ Let America Be America Again” is rhyme. The rhymes only seem to come into play, when the oppressed voice is in play. It also seems only to be used when talking about the issues they have faced in the country. This seems to add to the emphasis that the way they were treated is unfair, and not in line with the ideals of the country. For example, “Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain, Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain…” their hard work built America, and even though they put in the hard work they are still oppressed and not free (Hughes, 1936). Using the elements point of view, rhyme, and tone, to analyze the poem develops the theme that America has never really provided the ideals outlined in the constitution, except for the first inhabitants, founding fathers, and the wealthy. The poem rings true today as it did when the poem was written. America is full of people living in poverty, immigrants who are worried about deportation, and groups of people that have issues with equality to this
This poem is often compared to Walt Whitman’s I Hear America Singing because of the similarities of the two poems. In this poem, Hughes argues that the African American race is equal to whites. Hughes even declares that one day the African American race will be equal to whites. Hughes proclaims, “Besides, They’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed-I, too, am America.” Hughes was very bold and daring when he wrote these lines in this poem. He is implying that the white people will regret what they have done to blacks. That they will be ashamed of how they treated them. Undoubtedly, this poem expresses Hughes cultural identity.
In the poem "Let America Be America Again," Langston Hughes paints a vivid word picture of a depressed America in the 1930's. To many living in America, the idealism presented as the American Dream had escaped their grasp. In this poetic expression, a speaker is allowed to voice the unsung Americans' concern of how America was intended to be, had become to them, and could aspire to be again.
Hughes, Langston. "Let America Be America Again." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 14 May 2014.
Poems are expression of the human soul, and even though, is not everyone’s cup of tea when the individual finds that special poem it moves their soul one with the poet. There are many poets in the world, but the one that grab my attention the most was no other than Langston Hughes. It would be impossible for me to cover all the poems he wrote, but the one that grab my attention the most is called “Let America Be America Again.” It first appeared in “1938 pamphlet by Hughes entitled A New Song. Which was published by a socialist organization named the International Worker Order” (MLM) and later change back to its original name. I have never felt such an energy coming out of a poem like this one which is the reason that I instantly felt in love with it.
The poem opens a thought of the American Dream, about what he wants America to be, and his hope for the country. The beginning line of the poem entails that America has to be the same America it once was, to me it’s a lie. America back then practiced slavery and oppression, it destroyed the lands of people to build their own homes. The ideal of an “America” was all a dream. It’s what they wanted for their America to be. We as people should be able to rise up and redefine the American equality and take back our land. The poem serves a powerful message of equality. The theme of this poem is against injustice and inequalities that exist in America and that can corrupt the American dream. All characters in the novels we read for the semester i.e. The African, Quick skills, and Tucker, have a lot of similarities with the poem, “Let America Be America Again”. They led their people to freedom by fighting against slavery and restrictions. The African escaped from his master. The African vowed to be free and never be enslaved again. Quickskill came to liberate the fellow slaves, who were enslaved in his master 's plantation. Tucker realized that he had some worth, and wanted freedom for his family. All three of these characters laid their lives on the line for their fellow men. They would rather prefer to die with dignity rather than become a white man’s property. They wanted
In Langston Hughes' poem, "Freedom," he emphasizes the struggle to enjoy the freedoms that he knows are rightfully his. He reflects the American desire for freedom now when he says, "I do not need my freedom when I'm dead. I cannot live on tomorrow's bread." He recognizes the need for freedom in its entirety without compromise or fear.
In Langston Hughes’ poem “Let America Be America Again,” Hughes speaks so passionately about the failure of the American dream in the 1930's. America has never lived up to the dream of freedom for so many immigrants; these individuals being the true founders of America. Hughes paints a vivid word picture of his disappointment for this dream turn nightmare through his historic allusions, and repetition of his powerful statements.
Yes it indeed bears repeating, “Freedom Is Not Free!” Its acquisition from King George’s England involved struggle, its maintenance throughout the first two and a quarter centuries of our Great Republic required sacrifice and its continuation demands perseverance. Wise people fully realize that struggle, sacrifice and perseverance are the vital characteristics of freedom, democracy and independence. In the late 1930s complaisant European nations were lulled into the jaws of the very dangerous “victim/slave mentality.” Weak democracies tried placating and accommodating the tyrannical proponents of the Communist, Socialist and Fascist ideologies and Europe soon found itself in jeopardy with maniacs like Stalin, Hitler and Mussolini threatening the existence of taken-for-granted freedom and human rights.
Whitman’s poem was written in the mid-1800s during the industrial revolution, but Hughes’ poem was written in the 1900s during the Civil Rights Movement. This is important because the Civil Rights Movement established the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Industrial Revolution moved at a slow place but there were still issues with slavery. Whitman’s poem was free verse while Hughes’ poem was traditional rhyme/rhythm. The tone of Whitman’s poem was patriotic and celebratory (I HEAR America singing, the varied carols I hear); because he was paying tribute to the success of the individuals; however, the tone of Hughes’ poem was sarcastic and frustrated (to build a “homeland of the free,’’ because he didn’t feel like some individuals were allowed to experience the American Dream. Whitman’s theme of his poem was that individuals and liberties make America great. On the other hand, Hughes’ theme of his poem expressed that individuals felt excluded from the “homeland of the free.” The purpose of Whitman’s poem is praise for universal brotherhood. However, Hughes’ poem’s purpose was to inform individuals about inequality, meaning that not everyone has the same liberties in America. Whitman’s poem focused on the jobs of the workers, while Hughes’ poem focused on race, social status, and a list to represent the “I am’’ phrase; (I am the Negro bearing slavery’s scars). He also
Alexis de Tocqueville and Langston Hughes both have their own ideas about what America is, was, and should be. Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America praises American democracy in which everyone is included. This inclusion allows for democracy that everyone can be a part of and feel like they are contributing. On the contrary, Langston Hughes’s “Let America Be America Again” depicts an excluding America that does not treat everyone equivalently. Hughes portrays America as a misrepresentation that does not uphold the ideals that it is so famous for. The two works contrast in many ways but do have some similarities. Although their ideas are different, politics is still a choice. Tocqueville describes politics as a choice that everyone should make as it benefits them all while Hughes describes politics as a choice that some do not have the power to take part in. The differing sentiments between Democracy in America and “Let America Be America Again” stem
This well-known statement truly incorporates all facets of what it means to be free in America. The citizens of this country have the right to live. They have the right to be free of restriction and control, to do what they please. And they have the right to be happy in whatever way that might be. These rights are so basic, yet so vital.... ...
Obama also wants Americans to not feel neglected in society since he states that “new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility...work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other” (Doc 14). Therefore, indicates that change is possible if people were to work together to fight for social rights and to acknowledge that citizens in America should not be alone and that true spirit comes from having a confident interpretation for change in the
The civil rights movement may have technically ended in the nineteen sixties, but America is still feeling the adverse effects of this dark time in history today. African Americans were the group of people most affected by the Civil Rights Act and continue to be today. Great pain and suffering, though, usually amounts to great literature. This period in American history was no exception. Langston Hughes was a prolific writer before, during, and after the Civil Rights Act and produced many classic poems for African American literature. Hughes uses theme, point of view, and historical context in his poems “I, Too” and “Theme for English B” to expand the views on African American culture to his audience members.
In Let America Be America Again, Langston Hughes pliably shares his opinions on the American dream. Hughes composed this poem in the year 1935 and its title was later used as the slogan by John Kerry while running for a presidential seat in 2004.In the entire poem, Hughes divergences his expectations of America with the truth of life for those individuals outside religious and social groups. He reminds the dreams of the many people who came to America in order to fulfill them yet they have not been able to do so because America is not the land they thought it was. The poem begins with the poet wishing for America to be what it was once was. The use of the phrase ‘again’ in line one shows that the country has gone done to a lower position than
We believe that we stay in a country which is a free country. Freedom to live the way we want, freedom to practice anything the way we choose to and freedom to rationalize our thoughts and be a free person. But the question that frequently we come across is whether this freedom is just on paper as what was originally drafted or the meaning of freedom is really free. Though freedom is what is professed by the constitution, in reality no one is free. This has suffocated one’s existence.