The African-American Perspective : ENC1102 :11/23/10

The African-American Perspective

How does Langston Hughes look at the world? Langston Hughes, an African American writer, has a very adamant view of the world in which he lives. Hughes is clearly influenced by the Harlem Renaissance, “a decade of extraordinary cultural creativity,” centered in Harlem in the 1920’s (989). Hughes writes his works during a time in which African-Americans are not treated equal to whites in the United States, and many African-Americans still harbor bad feelings from the past. Through Hughes’ writing, the reader is transported into the life of an African-American man who views the world with resentment, defiance, and optimism.

Hughes makes his resentful view of the world very apparent to his readers. He displays an unforgiving attitude towards white people, particularity towards the slavery of the Africans by the whites. Hughes has a sense of resentment and “weariness,” which is shown in his poem, “Trumpet Player” (1002). The author feels the need to make a point about slavery in this poem. Hughes’ “smoldering memory” of his ancestors traveling in “slave ships” in the not so distant past, leaves an undeniable feeling by the reader of the anger Hughes feels (1002). The fact that he mentions the slaves were “blazed to the crack of whips” also shows that Hughes harbors animosity towards the way Africans were treated in the past (1002). This resentful view of how African-Americans have been abused definitely portrays how Hughes looks at the world.

Hughes not only views the world with resentfulness, but also with defiance. Undoubtedly, this view is reflected in his poem, “Ballad of the Landlord.” Hughes obviously has this defiant outlook of the world due to the treatment of African-American by “high and mighty” white landlords (1005). It is evident in this poem that he feels this way and expresses his feeling towards the “pain of urban life” and the dire living conditions of African-Americans (993). The defiance can be observed by the reader with his statements: “Man threatens landlord” and “Judge gives negro 90 days in county jail” (1006). Clearly, Hughes is disturbed with the current predicament that African-Americans are in and is willing to protest it though his writing.

Although Hughes portrays a resentful and defiant view of the world, he also has an optimistic outlook towards the future of his race. Hughes’ optimism is evident in his poem,
“I, Too.”  The poem represents Hughes’ belief in life becoming better and more equal for the African-Americans in the United States. Hughes tells the reader from an African-American  man’s point of view that, “[He], too, [is] America” and therefore, should be equal (995). He is “the darker brother” and someday the whites will see “how beautiful [he is]” (995).  Hughes speaks about the fact that he must “eat in the kitchen” referring to a racial inequality.  He also makes reference to the fact that he will “grow strong” and “tomorrow / [he’ll] be at the table” with white people (996). Hughes obviously believes there is hope for the future of African-Americans to be equal Americans someday.

Through Hughes’ poems, it is certain that his view of the world is resentful and defiant, but he is hopeful that things will change for the better. His poems are written for the African-American people and provide encouragement and inspiration to his readers. The “Trumpet Player” begins with references to slavery, reminding us of the past.  “Ballad of the Landlord” reminds African-Americans to stay strong and to work for what you feel is right, and “I ,Too” shows Hughes’ belief that soon all people in America will be treated equal as Americans. We clearly see how Hughes looks at the world through his poetry which incorporates the history of his race and his own life experiences.