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Student Example 2

The document analyzes Langston Hughes' poems, particularly focusing on themes of the American Dream, racial inequality, and perseverance. It compares Hughes' works to modern narratives like The Great Gatsby and the film Hidden Figures, highlighting the struggles faced by marginalized groups. The discussion emphasizes the importance of advocating for freedom and equality in society, drawing parallels between Hughes and Maya Angelou's messages on racial rights.

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3 views2 pages

Student Example 2

The document analyzes Langston Hughes' poems, particularly focusing on themes of the American Dream, racial inequality, and perseverance. It compares Hughes' works to modern narratives like The Great Gatsby and the film Hidden Figures, highlighting the struggles faced by marginalized groups. The discussion emphasizes the importance of advocating for freedom and equality in society, drawing parallels between Hughes and Maya Angelou's messages on racial rights.

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Sophie Schrock

Professor Harper
HIST 1302 4-4-23​

Modern Versions of Hughes’ Poems

Langston Hughes wrote many excellent works that pinpointed major issues within society
both in the past and present. Beginning with his famous “Harlem,” Hughes speaks out about
pursuing a dream and questioning what happens when that dream is “deferred” (line 1) He then
goes on throughout his poem to pose different possible outcomes for this lost hope that was once
put in a dream, and quite frankly, doesn’t really answer any of the questions. While this poem
could be an anthem for any ordinary dreamer, Hughes truthfully wanted to raise a battle cry for
those fighting against inequality in the hopes of pursuing the American Dream, just like
everyone else wanted to do as well at the time.

The American Dream was becoming successful in your own terms and mainly came
through means of riches and fame. A novel that displays this idea of chasing after the American
Dream and also questioning what that really means along the way and in the end is The Great
Gatsby. This book relates to many ideas Hughes also brings forth by showing what people will
go through in order to achieve this high status in life, eventually to only fall short in the end.
Without spoiling this extraordinary story, it can often be a dream that causes one to ultimately
have a downfall, causing their dream to “be deferred” in Hughes’ terms. While the characters in
this novel didn’t have racial matters to deal with as much, it was their social status that
tremendously impacted the way their story ended. For the African American population,
however, both social status and race went hand in hand.

Sadly, this meant dreams were often cut short or ignored altogether simply due to the
color of skin that chased after a dream. The way certain racial minorities were treated with such
inequality was absurd, and sadly is continued in different ways even today. Hughes’ message of
speaking out about lost or blocked dreams is admirable, and in terms of inequality, should push
society to do better for all. The next poem of Hughes focuses on overcoming adversity and
persevering through boundaries and standards society previously set in store. In “Mother to
Son,” Hughes portrays a caring mother warning her son of all the “tacks, splinters, and boards”
he will face in life, but that he can keep “a-climbin’ on” if he perseveres (lines 3-5, 9). Once
again, this comes from a burdened place of racial pain from discrimination and probably a
tremendous amount of excessive obstacles in addition to life’s many challenges. A movie that
more currently correlates to this idea of persevering is Hidden Figures. This storyline highlights
three women working for NASA, defying gender and racial stereotypes within the aeronautical
realms. Their harsh reality is that “inequality is the norm” in their personal and work lives
(Raising Children).
These women overcome obstacle after obstacle over the course of the film, and prove so
many wrong as they find tremendous success along the way. They pose an encouragement to
people feeling marginalized and racially disrespected, a theme that is also the honest truth from
the mother to her son in Hughes’ poem. Although the core of both these works is a sad truth
many have to live with, they are both beautiful examples for perseverance and overcoming
barriers pressed on by society. ​ ​
Lastly, “I, Too” focuses on standing up for racial rights and how people of color can also
experience all the things the whites at the time were getting to experience. This poem is very
powerful since it is almost a sort of anthem for those in the racial minority feeling suppressed by
racism. A prime comparison I found to Hughes’ final poem was another poem called “Equality,”
by Maya Angelou. She speaks also of freedom that will be found in having equality alongside
other people, despite having a “painful history” (line 15). Angelou doesn’t shy away from the
hard matter of injustice in the same way the Hughes says the people in America will “see how
beautiful I am—And be ashamed” (lines 16-17). These two authors can relate to feeling the
burden of racial prejudice, and their courage to speak out about freedom and equality for all is
amazing. Their efforts are so respectable, and society needs to continue to advocate for freedom
for all people, whether that be in any area of life.

Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/may/25/american-dream-great-gatsby
https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/movie-reviews/hiddenfigures#:~:text=Hidden%20Figures%
20is%20an%20inspiring,overcome%20racist%20and%2 0misogynistic%20attitudes.
https://www.kera.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/First_Prize_Lauren_Moore.pdf

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