Literary Analysis "A Dream Deferred"

James Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet who focused on discussing the race relations during the Harlem Renaissance period, primarily on African Americans. Langston Hughes was a representation of African Americans. He was deemed the "Poet Laureate of the Negro Race," a title he encouraged according to (kansasheritage.org). What happens to a dream deferred? Just by his character, I believe he had dreams as a young individual himself. He wanted to make them come true and express his dreams through his poetry. Did his dream come true or was it just a Dream Deferred?

The ‘dream’ in “A Dream Deferred” is a goal that you entitle to yourself to achieve in life. When you have a dream or goal in life that you are trying to pursue no matter how big or little you want to accomplish that goal. Throughout this poem Hughes asks rhetorical questions. He is trying to get the reader to put him/her in the situation of their dream being blown up in their face. When you really want something and it does not go your way it can lead to unhappiness, anger, or even depression of that matter. As for the dream, what happens to it?

“Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?” Your dream becomes a total setback in your life. In this poem every question is followed by the reply of a negative question. There is no positive consequence that comes along with a deferred dream. Hughes uses the imagery “Or fester like a sore—And then run” it is referring to your dream collapsing right there in front of your eyes. When you have a sore on your body, you see the different stages and changes it goes through, also with life itself. But can you intervene and do something to prevent it from happening? No, you can’t, it is nature. In the end your sore is infected and you are disappointed with yourself and what you did not achieve. That is just how the cookie crumbles.

When the average person is worrying too much, they stress. Many people tend to stress when something is not going as planned. All you’re doing is thinking about what is going on and how can you fix the situation at hand. So it just sits there in the back of your mind, but what is it doing exactly? “Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.” It is weighing you down, like a burden. You can’t find strength to move forward in your life and accomplish new goals.

In the end when you could not live up to your own expectations, what can you do? Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and always stay determined. When your dream is deferred, what really happens?

Does it dry up

like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore--

And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over--

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags

like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

1.      "A Dream Deferred." Cswnet.com. Web. 05 May 2011. <http://www.cswnet.com/~menamc/langston.htm>.

2.      "Langston Hughes Biography: African-American History: Crossing Boundaries: Kansas Humanities Council." Kansas Heritage Group | Established 1993 | Kansas (KS) History, Old WestKS, Cities, Museums, Art, Racing, Cowboy Cooking, Laughead Web | Www.kansasheritage.org. Native Voices International. Web. 04 May 2011. <http://www.kansasheritage.org/crossingboundaries/page6e1.html>.

Current Event, Osama Bin Laden

Bin Laden’s death was covered extensively! According to News UK, news of Osama Bin Laden's death was on the front of every newspaper - and takes up many inside pages too. Many people may think we are in danger now more than ever; installing new security advices to make sure that we are safe. Osama’s actions in the past before he died were highly unacceptable, but it is the way he chose to live his life. What he did was wrong, but two wrongs do not make a right. Langston Hughes would not be happy with the way the killing of Bin Laden was handled. Hughes had a voice for African Americans but I strongly believe that he was not for violence. The situation at hand could have been handled more responsibly. I believe Hughes would want for everyone to come together and make peace as one, and just get along no matter what their culture is or what their skin may resemble.

By Langston Hughes

The instructor said,

Go home and write
a page tonight.
And let that page come out of you---
Then, it will be true.

I wonder if it's that simple?
I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem.
I went to school there, then Durham, then here
to this college on the hill above Harlem.
I am the only colored student in my class.
The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem
through a park, then I cross St. Nicholas,
Eighth Avenue, Seventh, and I come to the Y,
the Harlem Branch Y, where I take the elevator
up to my room, sit down, and write this page:
It's not easy to know what is true for you or me
at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I'm what
I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you:
hear you, hear me---we two---you, me, talk on this page.
(I hear New York too.) Me---who?
Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love.
I like to work, read, learn, and understand life.
I like a pipe for a Christmas present,
or records---Bessie, bop, or Bach.
I guess being colored doesn't make me NOT like
the same things other folks like who are other races.
So will my page be colored that I write?
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.
Sometimes perhaps you don't want to be a part of me.
Nor do I often want to be a part of you.
But we are, that's true!
As I learn from you,
I guess you learn from me---
although you're older---and white---
and somewhat more free.
This is my page for English B.

"Each human being must live within his time, with and for his people, and within the boundaries of his country."

The Harlem Renaissance is the period from the end of World War I and through the middle of the 1930s Depression. This cultural movement rose in Harlem, New York, before known as the “New Negro Movement,” It is the time where a group of talented African American writers were introduced to literature through drama, essay, poetry, fiction, and many other forms of artistic expression. African Americans made many accomplishments in literature during the Harlem Renaissance.

            A major factor leading to the rise of the Harlem Renaissance was the migration of African Americans to the northern cities. Between 1919 and 1926, large numbers of African Americans left their rural southern state homes to move to urban cities such as New York City, Chicago, and Washington D.C. The Harlem Renaissance was more than just a literary movement; it was an expression of African Americans and their heritage. It included the music, jazz and blues, paintings, “the back to Africa” movement led by Marcus Garvey, and racial integration.

            Many people may believe that Langston Hughes was the source to African Americans opinion being heard, which is not the case. "Hughes wrote a fundamentally new kind of verse -- one that told of the joys and sorrows, the trials and triumphs of ordinary black folk, in the language of their typical speech and composed out of a genuine love of these people."(3) Langston Hughes’ work is known for its “colorful verses on a wide variety of topics.” (2) In his poetry every word should be taken into consideration. His poems may be very short but they go into depth and his words are very expressive.

Through his writings he made many contributions to following generations by writing about African American issues. Today, Hughes still maintains a presence in literature and English studies. His work is able to allow each reader to see his talent and to understand the time period in which he made many accomplishments. His art was firmly rooted in race pride and race feeling even as he cherished his freedom as an artist.(1) Langston Hughes has remained an important figure in literature that is very well valued today.

                                          

1. Arnold Rampersad, "Hughes' Life and Career," http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/g_l/hughes/life.htm, 25 April 2011

2. Hill, Christine M. Langston Hughes: Poet of the Harlem Renaissance. New Jersey: Enslow Publishers, Inc, 1997.

3. "Teaching Multicultural Literature . Workshop 6 . Authors and LiteraryWorks . Biography." Learner.org. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. <http://www.learner.org/workshops/tml/workshop6/authors.html>.

Hughes Biography and Contribution

James Mercer Langston Hughes is an African American writer, poet, and novelist. He was born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. Hughes was named after both his father and his grand-uncle, John Mercer Langston who, in 1888, became the first African American to be elected to the United States Congress from Virginia. He attended Central High School in Cleveland, Ohio, where he began writing poetry. Following graduation, he spent a year in Mexico and a year at Columbia University. During these years, he held odd jobs as an assistant cook, launderer, and a busboy, and travelled to Africa and Europe working as a seaman(2). Hughes was the most popular and versatile of the many writers connected with the Harlem Renaissance. (1)

 In the 1920s, he joined the Harlem Renaissance and with his outstanding works of art he became one of the leading figures of the movement (3). He is best known for his writings during the Harlem Renaissance, the period after World War I and through the middle of the 1930s depression. Although, Langston Hughes is best known for his poetry, we should not forget about his drama Mulatto, written in 1935 and was performed on Broadway almost 400 times. Hughes published more than three dozen books during his life, starting out with poetry and then expanding into novels, short stories, and plays.

Langston Hughes expresses the hardships and dreams of all African Americans. How their lifestyle was “taken away” and they were forced into white culture.  He contributed in writing about African Americans and recognizing their music and type of speech. Through his writings he made many contributions to following generations by writing about African American issues in creative ways including the use of blues and jazz. Langston Hughes captured the scene of Harlem life in the early 20th century significantly influencing American Literature.   He wanted his readers to have an idea of what African Americans went through during slavery and how they overcame their trials and tribulations. Langston Hughes died of complications from prostate cancer in May 22, 1967, in New York. In his memory, his residence at 20 East 127th Street in Harlem, New York City, has been given landmark status by the New York City Preservation Commission, and East 127th Street has been renamed "Langston Hughes Place." (2)

1.    Baym, Nina, Wayne Franklin, Philip F. Gura, and Arnold Krupat. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 7th ed. Vol. D. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2007. Print

2.    "Langston Hughes." Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More. Academy of American Poets, 1997. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/83>.

"Poetry of the Harlem Renaissance." Suite101.com: Online Magazine and Writers' Network. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/modern_us_poetry/105797>.

I, too, sing America

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.

Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--

I, too, am America.