Search for Identity in the Poetry of Langston Hughes Essay

Search for Identity in the Poetry of Langston Hughes In exploring the problem of identity in Black literature we find no simple or definite explanation. Nevertheless, it is generally accepted that it is rooted in the reality of the discriminatory social system in America with its historic origins in the institution of slavery. One can discern that this slavery system imposes a double burden on the Negro through severe social and economic inequalities and through the heavy psychological consequences suffered by the Negro who is forced to play an inferior role, 1 the latter relates to the low self-estimate, feeling of helplessness and basic identity conflict. Thus, in some form or the other, every Negro American is confronted with the†¦show more content†¦His own life influenced his art. Being born in a Negro family and at a time of racial discrimination from his early childhood, he had to bear the ruthless behaviour of the whites. So, from the very beginning of his life he faced many problems viz., racial discrimination, lack o f identity in the society and no actual or practical freedom of blacks etc. All this put a remarkable impact on his mind, on his soul and made him a poet of blacks. A great votary of black art, Hughes inaugurated a distinct movement of negritude which may be regarded as the soul of Harlem. Rising from his consciousness of the colour of his skin and passing through various stages of identification with people and territory of Africa and finally grounding it in the American Past, negritude in the poetry of Hughes evolves into a definite and enduring concept expressive of definite vision.6 But he doesnt suffer from what W.E.B. DuBois terms as double consciousness - two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body.7 Langston Hughes in his essay on The Negro Artist andShow MoreRelatedThe Black Man and Langston Hughes1601 Words   |  7 PagesThe term identity is defined by Webster’s dictionary as being â€Å"the state or fact of remaining the same one or ones, as under varying aspects or conditions† however in exploring the concept of Identity in black literature, we can find no definite explanation or definition. We can try to accept that it has been rooted in social situations that are generally more discriminatory, such the institution of slavery. In some way shape or form, the average or normal African American is confronted with theRead MoreThesis: Langston Hughes and the Blues1812 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Research Outline I . Introduction Thesis Langston Hughs viewed the music of the blues and poetry as kindred forces that propelled the downtrodden blacks of the 1920s and 1930s toward a better day. II. Paragraph Two develop metaphor between constancy of blues music and ocean waves in live of black people. Quote blues poems: Weary Blues, Po Boy Blues, Homesick Blues. Relationship between the listener (the poet) and the blues musician, each coming to the same place night after night Read More`` True Freedom `` By Langston Hughes1163 Words   |  5 Pagesstanding up for beliefs. Langston Hughes, an American poet known for his writing during the Harlem Renaissance period said, â€Å"In all my life, I have never been free. I have never been able to do anything with freedom, except in the field of my writing.† (citation). As a young African American man, Hughes faced man obstacles, but writing gave him a sense of freedom of expression. His poetry reached people of various social, cultural, and racial backgrounds. Hughes’ poetry has timeless themes thatRead MoreIdentity in the Poetry of Langston Hughes2807 Words   |  12 PagesSearch for Identity in the Poetry of Langston Hughes In exploring the problem of identity in Black literature we find no simple or definite explanation. Nevertheless, it is generally accepted that it is rooted in the reality of the discriminatory social system in America with its historic origins in the institution of slavery. One can discern that this slavery system imposes a double burden on the Negro through severe social and economic inequalities and through the heavy psychological consequencesRead MoreThe Harlem Renaissance1209 Words   |  5 Pagesthe United States and even abroad, to regions with large numbers of former slaves or blacks needing to construct ethnic identities amid a dominant white culture. The primary means of cultural expression during the Harlem Renaissance were literature and poetry, although visual art, drama, and music also played a role in the development of the new, urban African-American identity. Urbanization and population migration prompted large numbers of blacks to move away from the Jim Crow south, where slaveryRead More With Reference To At Least Four Different Poems, Explore How Cultural1442 Words   |  6 PagesDifferent Poems, Explore How Cultural Identity Is Represented By The Various Poets The four poems I have selected to focus on all portray a cultural identity in their own unique way. Wherever I hang and The Fat Black Woman Goes Shopping, are both written by Grace Nichols, a poet of Guinean background. I have also chosen to explore Dream Variation by Langston Hughes as well as Half-Caste by John Agard. I have chosen this selection of poetry because I feel that each poem has greatRead MoreThe Harlem Renaissance : A Important Period Of History958 Words   |  4 Pagesmusicians include, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Billie Holiday. It also brought in new poetry. Some famous poets include Langston Hughes, Claude Mckay, and Countee Cullen. Please consider adding the poems â€Å"I too†, â€Å"After the Winter†, and â€Å"Let America Be America Again† and a history of the Harlem Renaissance as an exhibit in your museum. The first poem you should include is â€Å"I, Too† by Langston Hughes. This poem is about a â€Å"dark brother† or a black man who was sent to eat in the kitchen. AndRead MoreEssay on The Poetry in Harlem Renaissance1981 Words   |  8 PagesBlues and Jazz were the only musical influences that impacted the Harlem Renaissance. Indeed, with the pursuit for heritage and identity, many aspects of African culture influenced Renaissance poetry musically. However, focus also needs to be placed on more controversial topics, such as religion and gender, as poets challenged oppression. When discussing the poetry of the Harlem Renaissance, due to the strength of their relationship, one must look at Blues and Jazz. Many viewed this genre asRead MoreEssay Art Life of Langston Hughes5893 Words   |  24 Pagesthe fight against racism. One man used his art and the power of words to bring forth the issues of injustice suffered in America, he was Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes was a Negro Writer, born at the turn of the century in 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. His ancestry included three major race groups, however, he lived and was identified as a Negro or Colored (Hughes referred to himself as colored or Negro, because those were the terms used to refer to African-Americans in this era). He spent mostRead MoreThe Harlem Renaissance Poetry1097 Words   |  4 Pagesprogressing through the 1920s and 30s, a section of New York City called Harlem began to be the center of a group of talented African American artists, composers, poets, and dancers. This period of time, wit h all the literary works, music, art, and poetry coming out of the Black experience, was called the New Negro Renaissance, or the Harlem Renaissance. This was a time just after World War I when there was again hope hope that Whites and Blacks could coexist and appreciate the gifts each had to give