Ordinary Hoop Court Into A Place Of Higher Learning And You At The Podium

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A Comparative Theme Analysis Essay of “Mother to Son” and “How to Transform an Everyday, Ordinary Hoop Court into a Place of Higher Learning and You at the Podium” Childhood and adolescence are viewed as times for growth and exploration. It is when young people learn to make decisions and overcome metaphorical roadblocks. Rarely, however, are these young people alone. Many children and teenagers have parents or parental figures they can turn to for advice. These older, wiser individuals serve as a source of mentorship to the youth who look up to them. In the poem “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes and the short story “How to Transform an Everyday, Ordinary Hoop Court into a Place of Higher Learning and You at the Podium” by Matt de la Pea, …show more content…

“Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes is a poem wherein a mother gives support to her son in regards to pain associated with living. The mother character begins by educating her son about all of the hardships she has faced over her life, explaining that she has experienced her fair share of suffering, and that her son should expect the same (Hughes 1-7). After speaking to these points, however, she goes on to say, “But all the time / I’se been a-climbin’ on / And reachin’ landin’s, / And turnin’ corners, / And sometimes goin’ in the dark / Where there ain’t been no light.” (Hughes 8-13). These lines represent a turning point within the poem, where the mother explains that she has been going on despite the troubles she has faced - a key part of the invaluable advice she is giving her son. Moreover, the mother finishes the poem by urging her son to go on, just like she has: “Don’t you fall now-- / For I’se still goin’, honey, / I’se still climbin’, / And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.” (Hughes 17-20). This is, perhaps, the most manifest example of advice from a wise …show more content…

It is implied by how the father tells his son that he was not in the wrong that the father, too, has experienced racism over the course of his lifetime. This particular moment in the story highlights how an older person’s experiences can be used to educate and support youth. Consequently, both texts offer a lesson to their potential younger readers: when faced with dilemmas, problems, or roadblocks, parental figures can serve as advisors. In Langston Hughes’ “Mother to Son” and Matt de la Pea’s “How to Transform an Everyday, Ordinary Hoop Court into a Place of Higher Learning and You at the Podium”, the older characters display wisdom that is often associated with old age, and serve as mentors and confidants. Younger readers are reminded of the significance of their parents and guardians in their lives. Both texts offer the implication that, rather than attempting to face strife alone, one can turn to an adult who they can trust. Ultimately, by acknowledging the beneficial impact turning to a parent had on the two young boys in these stories, today’s youth can be better connected with their elders through mentorship, conversation, and

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