Let america be america. Let America Be America By Langston Hughes: Poem Analysis 2022-12-22

Let america be america Rating: 7,8/10 522 reviews

Let America be America is a poem written by Langston Hughes, a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance. The poem speaks to the promises and ideals of America, and the ways in which those promises have not been fully realized for many people. It speaks to the struggles of marginalized groups and their ongoing fight for equality and justice.

In the opening lines of the poem, Hughes writes: "Let America be America again / Let it be the dream it used to be." Here, Hughes speaks to the idea that America was founded on the principles of freedom and opportunity, and that these ideals have been lost or forgotten over time. He calls on America to return to its roots, to be the place where anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve their dreams.

However, as the poem continues, Hughes acknowledges that this dream has not been fully realized for many people. He writes: "The land that never has been yet / And yet must be—the land where every man is free." Here, Hughes speaks to the ongoing struggle for equality and justice in America. He acknowledges that while America has not yet achieved a state of true equality, it is a land that must be, a place where every person is free to pursue their dreams and live their lives without fear or oppression.

Hughes also addresses the specific struggles of marginalized groups in America. He writes: "The land that's mine—the poor white, fooled and pushed apart, / The Negro bearing slavery's scars." Here, Hughes speaks to the ways in which racism and inequality have impacted the lives of black Americans, as well as the ways in which poor white Americans have also been marginalized and left behind.

Throughout the poem, Hughes speaks to the ongoing fight for justice and equality in America. He writes: "O, let America be America again— / The land that never has been yet— / And yet must be—the land where every man is free." Hughes calls on America to live up to its ideals and to be the place where everyone can live freely and pursue their dreams.

In conclusion, Let America be America is a powerful and poignant poem that speaks to the promises and ideals of America, and the ways in which those promises have not been fully realized for many people. It speaks to the ongoing struggles of marginalized groups and their fight for justice and equality. Ultimately, it calls on America to live up to its ideals and to be the land where every person is free to pursue their dreams.

Let America Be America Be America Again: Poem Analysis

let america be america

This alter ego whose skeptical and disappointed voice is heard repeatedly throughout the poem is a manifestation of the author's openness to multiple perspectives. We remain steadfast and unyielding in our support of the institutions and leaders fighting injustice and addressing inequality of every kind and category. It introduces the keywords which will be repeated many times throughout the poem - "America," "dream," "pioneer," "home," and "free". Westover notes: "In his poem, Hughes deploys a dual discourse in order to express the contradictory meanings of America and to enrich those meanings with a sense of the word's critical possibilities. Hughes' poem acts as a voice for anyone who has suffered an injustice or been treated unfairly in some way.

Next

Let America be America Again

let america be america

Abraham Lincoln In the poem "Let America Be America Again," Langston Hughes paints an affecting and diverse stanza, displaying peaceful passages to angry outbursts. Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed-- Let it be that great strong land of love Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme That any man be crushed by one above. In addition to connecting the modern African American to their ancestors, this idea of unity among other modern African Americans can be felt with the commiseration due to the universal suffering from discrimination. They make one story become the only story" Adichie. Each of the quatrains is followed by a sad and disillusioned remark by the narrator's alter ego which reminds the readers of America's past and present. O, let America be America again-- The land that never has been yet-- And yet must be--the land where every man is free.

Next

‘Let America Be America Again’

let america be america

Another literary device Hughes employs is like or as. On the one hand, many of us feel that the world has been turned upside down. Throughout the poem, Hughes uses repetitive phrasing such as, ''America never was America to me,'' to demonstrate how America has failed him. Yet, by the end of the poem, Hughes takes a more upbeat tone, saying: ''America never was America to me, And yet I swear this oath--America will be! O, yes, I say it plain, America never was America to me, And yet I swear this oath-- America will be! Personification is used when he writes that America or the dream "be the pioneer on the plain" which is giving human characteristics to a non human idea as dreams cannot be a human pioneer. Though they lost it, at one time, they had it. Of work the men! America never was America to me.

Next

Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes

let america be america

Internal rhyme Internal rhyme is rhyme within a singular line. If inequality fuels the fault lines of division, then our shared pursuit of dignity must help bridge the gaps. Let it be the pioneer on the plain Seeking a home where he himself is free. The rhythm and the rhyme create a bright, optimistic and energizing sensation which is conveyed to the reader also through the metaphors. From those who live like leeches on the people's lives, We must take back our land again, America! Langston Hughes is a poet who tried to emphasize the idea of equality among all human beings.

Next

Let America Be America By Langston Hughes: Poem Analysis

let america be america

With appreciation and unbridled hope, Darren. In these 10 lines, Hughes evokes the power of the American promise, coupled with the pain of indignity and inequality. Frist, Hughes utilizes the shift of tones to indicate the thrive of African American power. The proliferation of fake news and the prevalence of brazen falsehoods on air and online are undermining faith in basic facts. Its secret lies within the equilibristic combination of the narrator's immediate and straightforward manner of speaking, the universality, and urgency of the problematics and the brilliant, potent diction. They were to just work and stay low-key.

Next

What literary devices does Langston Hughes use in "Let America Be America Again"?

let america be america

Poem " Let America Be America Again" is a Kansas Magazine and was revised and included in a small collection of Langston Hughes poems entitled A New Song, published by the The poem speaks of the American dream that never existed for the The title of this poem was used by Let America Be America Again: Conversations with Langston Hughes, edited by Christopher C. Let it be the pioneer on the plain Seeking a home where he himself is free. However, he does believe America can be great — or greater — and therefore, that is the theme of this poem. O, I'm the man who sailed those early seas In search of what I meant to be my home-- For I'm the one who left dark Ireland's shore, And Poland's plain, and England's grassy lea, And torn from Black Africa's strand I came To build a "homeland of the free. All this constitutes an assault on what we thought were well-established societal norms.

Next

Let America Be America Again: Summary & Theme

let america be america

And we are grateful for your leadership—and partnership—during the critical months and years ahead. Let's take a closer look. He was an inspirational African American poet trying to become accepted during the segregation of the 1930s. Let it be the dream it used to be. Though the speaker has not enjoyed the promise of the American dream, they still believe in the promises of those that came many generations before, the folks that clung to hope, promise, and freedom to create a better life.

Next

Let America Be America Again Poem Summary and Analysis

let america be america

This very comment reveals that the author sees America as a land that has not yet realized its potential of becoming a dream. The poem alludes to or references Walt Whitman's Song of Myself. I am the red man driven from the land, I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek-- And finding only the same old stupid plan Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak. The poem questions who ''the free'' really are. Hughes makes the reader understand that this dream is one that has not existed for him but has only heard about and is yet hopeful that it will become his. Structuring his poem as a conversation, Hughes offers his readers freedom of choice - the value that he most closely associated with the American nation.

Next

Let America be America again: A New Year’s reflection / Ford Foundation

let america be america

The interesting aspect of this poem is that here Hughes gives voice not only to the black population as he does, for example, in his famous poem "Negro Speaks of Rivers," but also to the "poor white," the indigenous people of America and the recent immigrants. He conveys the idea that black Americans are as important in the society. The poem is a contrast between what America hopes to be and what Hughes and others have experienced. I am the red man driven from the land, I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek- And finding only the same old stupid plan Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak. They advance narratives that pit communities against one another—that permit some to falsely claim that the only way to ensure dignity for yourself is to strip it from others. Hughes addresses how America considers to be, has shifted to them to think, and could pursue to be again.

Next

📗 Literary Analysis Essay on "Let America be America again"

let america be america

O, let my land be a land where Liberty Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath, But opportunity is real, and life is free, Equality is in the air we breathe. These parenthetical statements in-between stanzas show how unfair America has been and that "America never was America" to them. His resonance seems confessional, as he is speaking about his own exposure and communicating for all the unheard Americans. Of grab the gold! Toward the end of the poem, Hughes transitions to a more optimistic tone and issues a rallying cry for America's people to step up and ''make America again. The two consecutive H's are alliteration. To borrow a phrase from the brilliant artist Lilla Watson, our liberation is bound up together.

Next