"Let America Be America Again" is a poem written by Langston Hughes in the 1930s, during a time of great economic hardship and social inequality in the United States. In the poem, Hughes reflects on the ideals of freedom and opportunity that have long been associated with America, and he laments the fact that these ideals have not been fully realized for all people in the country.
Hughes begins the poem by describing America as a land of promise and hope, where "anybody can be anything" and where "dreams come true." He speaks of the "cities, mountains, rivers," and the "great rivers rolling," all of which symbolize the vast potential and opportunities that America has to offer.
However, Hughes quickly shifts to a more somber tone, acknowledging that this idealized version of America is not the reality for everyone. He speaks of the "poor white, foe of his own kind," and the "Negro bearing slavery's scars," both of whom have been denied the same opportunities and freedoms as others. Hughes also mentions the "red man driven from the land," a reference to the Native Americans who were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands in the 19th century.
As the poem continues, Hughes becomes increasingly critical of the American dream and the ways in which it has been co-opted and distorted. He speaks of the "rich man's heaven" that has been created, a place where "the poor man's pain" is ignored and where "justice is a game." Hughes laments that America has become a place where "the shadow of the Third Liberty Loan" hangs over the land, a reference to the government's attempts to fund the First World War through public loans.
Ultimately, Hughes calls on America to return to its roots and to live up to the ideals of freedom and equality that it was founded upon. He writes: "Let America be America again - / The land that never has been yet - / And yet must be - the land where every man is free." Hughes's call to action is a reminder that America's promise of opportunity and equality has not yet been fully realized, and that there is still work to be done to ensure that it becomes a reality for all people.
In conclusion, "Let America Be America Again" is a powerful and poignant poem that speaks to the ongoing struggle for justice and equality in the United States. Hughes's words remind us of the ideals that have long been associated with America, and they call on us to work towards creating a society that truly lives up to those ideals. So, we should try to make America a land where every man is free and equal.
š Literary Analysis Essay on "Let America be America again"
Freedom or the lack of freedom was the seed, the energy, and underlying theme that drove the poetry of the Harlem Renaissance, like that of Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen. For a nation that has achieved so much, there ought to be a greater advancement in fighting against these matters. This enumeration returns the reader from the elevated metaphoric realm of symbols and generalizations to the reality showing that the dream is real and standing united the Americans can make it finally come true. For more than a century since British occupation, it has been embroiled in world wars, revolutions, the modern age, and establishment. Omi, Michael, and Howard Winant. The American Dream rooted in enlightenment philosophy Let America Be America Again Poem Analysis America is known to be the country of liberty.
Essay on Analysis Of Let America Be America Again By Langston Hughes Essay
Hughes, like any black man in white America, feels cheated and betrayed, the promise of equality, broken, leaving him frustrated and distressed. How human life is worth more than a toxic waste, such as oil. In hindsight he believed his poems helped others realize the injustices that all minorities had to face during this era. This shows how he believes that he will be included. Even these, in the opinion of Langton Hughes, do not quite enjoy it completely as they live in the guilt caused by white privilege and the occasional knowledge of the whole truth. No the dream is not still viable because Langston Hughes dreams were for equality and for the people to be protected equally under the same laws and law enforcement.
"Let America Be America Again" by Langston Hughes
That 's why people tend to laud the men and women that came from little to nothing that then make it to their Is The American Dream Attainable Essay 794 Words 4 Pages This quote explains that anyone can pursue the American Dream. Human beings are able to work together and live together in harmony despite the color of their skin, religious beliefs, and physical appearance. Many black people fought in the war and after it ended, they still did not have equality, which caused questions of why they were not equal if they fought against another country. Hughes depicts the downtrodden Negroes who bear who bear many scars, physically and mentally, of the seeming to have no end slavery. Compared to other countries in the world at the time, America was a dream that many wanted to attain. The concept has changed over the years with numerous activism processes of the twentieth century having pushed for recognition of equal rights of all citizens of the United States as per the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution. That, ladies and gentlemen, is my question to you.
