ww.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/let-america-be-america-again Poets often use their poetry 1as platforms to present multiple sides, views, and opinions on various points of issue. In his poem Let America be Great Again, Langston Hughes utilizes a nostalgic tone, first person narration, and literary devices such as metaphors and anaphoras to discuss a system of institutionalized oppression in America. This poem underscores a theme of the unfulfilled promises and broken dreams that accompany the cycle of oppression. Throughout Let America be Great Again, Hughes uses anaphoras and metaphors to create a sense of unity amongst dividing social lines of race and income. Hughes says “I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart, I am the Negro bearing
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Along with his first person narration, Hughes’ tone signifies to the reader how invested he, and others like him, are in America’s future. It indicates that he has a personal connection with the topic and enables readers to sympathize with him and engage with the poem. Even in today’s context Let America be be Great Again is of high significance. Many people, especially racial and income minorities, struggle to see where America was ever great, especially when a rich, white man like Donald Trump uses “Let’s Make America Great Again!” as a conservative rallying cry. The argument that Hughes makes is an argument that many continue to make, proving that his work, and the reason behind writing this poem, was both important enough and controversial enough to cross generational …show more content…
This technique combined with the anaphoras and repetitive sentence structuring creates repetition and rhythm throughout the work. Brooks follows an AABBCCDD rhyme scheme, with each couplet having rhyming words at the end of their sentences such as “cool” and “school,” “late” and “straight,” “sin” and “gin,” and, lastly, “june” and “soon.” This technique makes it easier for readers to follow along. In addition, the length of this poem is significant in that it mimics the fast-paced lifestyle that Brooks is referring to. The poem consists of eight lines with each one containing descriptions that are more severe than the line before it. Brooks first mentions skipping school at the beginning of the poem and six lines later she’s referring to their fast-approaching death. By making the poem brief and to the point, Brooks supplements the idea of the brevity of life and brings it full circle because the audience is not able to thoroughly reflect on the actions being depicted in the poem before it comes to an abrupt end. By not extending the length of the poem, Brooks emphasizes how if young people keep going down this path, they, too, will not have the time to even reflect on their actions before their “end”
Along with his first person narration, Hughes’ tone signifies to the reader how invested he, and others like him, are in America’s future. It indicates that he has a personal connection with the topic and enables readers to sympathize with him and engage with the poem. Even in today’s context Let America be be Great Again is of high significance. Many people, especially racial and income minorities, struggle to see where America was ever great, especially when a rich, white man like Donald Trump uses “Let’s Make America Great Again!” as a conservative rallying cry. The argument that Hughes makes is an argument that many continue to make, proving that his work, and the reason behind writing this poem, was both important enough and controversial enough to cross generational …show more content…
This technique combined with the anaphoras and repetitive sentence structuring creates repetition and rhythm throughout the work. Brooks follows an AABBCCDD rhyme scheme, with each couplet having rhyming words at the end of their sentences such as “cool” and “school,” “late” and “straight,” “sin” and “gin,” and, lastly, “june” and “soon.” This technique makes it easier for readers to follow along. In addition, the length of this poem is significant in that it mimics the fast-paced lifestyle that Brooks is referring to. The poem consists of eight lines with each one containing descriptions that are more severe than the line before it. Brooks first mentions skipping school at the beginning of the poem and six lines later she’s referring to their fast-approaching death. By making the poem brief and to the point, Brooks supplements the idea of the brevity of life and brings it full circle because the audience is not able to thoroughly reflect on the actions being depicted in the poem before it comes to an abrupt end. By not extending the length of the poem, Brooks emphasizes how if young people keep going down this path, they, too, will not have the time to even reflect on their actions before their “end”