Summary Of Let America Be America Again By Langston Hughes

In Joplin, Missouri, on February 1, 1902, James Mercer Langston Hughes was born to the parents of James N. Hughes and Caroline M. Hughes. Hughes parents decided it was best for them to separate shortly after his birth. Hughes father made the decision to leave The United States due to the racial discrimination in which African Americans endure, he later settled in Mexico. Hughes was mainly raised by his grandmother, Mary Patterson Langston until she passed away in his early teen years. He then was raised by family friends for a short period of time, then eventually moved home with his mother Caroline in Lincoln, Illinois. Caroline relocated to various states in attempt to finding better employment to provide for her family. While in high school, Hughes was introduced to many poets including, the work of the well known poet Carl Sandburg who he later claimed to be his “guiding star”. In Hughes high school career, he began developing his unique style of poetry that he will forever be remembered by. Even as a teenager, he submitted many of his writings to various magazines for publishing but unfortunately, at that time they were denied, which didn’t …show more content…
His pieces were so significant that it assisted with shaping American literature. Hughes created the poem “Let America Be America Again”, the poem was primarily based on The American Dream that contained barriers that prohibited African Americans from obtaining this dream. Hughes was very passionate about freedom, freedom and justice at this time he felt his people didn’t have. His use of imagery and rhetorical questions in this poem brought out the purpose and meaning behind this particular piece. Hughes writing style differed from writers in his time because he used folk rhythms and jazz in conjunction with his pieces. He was very vocal when it came to expressing his views on what African Americans went