The Power of Words African American writers such as Langston Hughes bring a voice to the segregation and racial issues African Americans and other minority groups endured. Hughes works provide a clear, visual picture of the racism, and discrimination towards African Americans. Hughes does not “sugar coat” the effects that racism and segregation had towards African American and their cultures and traditions. In Langston Hughes’ poem, “I, Too” the speaker speaks about eating and singing but instead he does this in the kitchen instead of in the dining area. While the reader might expect the speaker to be a cook who enjoys singing in the kitchen, the reality is, the speaker is in fact not a cook, but instead a human being that belongs to this
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According to Chasar “black laughter not only challenged the acoustics of white power and served as a weapon in the struggle for political and social justice, but it also aggressively and bodily sounded what Houston Baker calls the strength of “an African ancestral past” (58). Chasar compares Hughes’ poetry to as “an elemental force connected to black power” (73). Chasar argues that Hughes tone of eating well and getting stronger is in reference to building a strong body but also a strong spirit. In a world of diversity and chaos at times, black laughter gave African Americans an opportunity to place words, in regards to oppression, and enabled them to hear a voice that shed light on the inequality that African Americans were enduring and therefore an opportunity to empower …show more content…
Gibson makes an equivalent argument in his article: “Introduction: To Modern Black Poets: A Collection of Critical essays.” Gibson’s main arguments are that during a time of oppression and through the use of poetry, Hughes was able to “spread his message humorously-though always serious-to audiences throughout the country.” (pp.7-8). Gibson compares Hughes to Walt Whitman as a “poet of the people.” Gibson provides more in-depth of how Hughes used poetry to convey his feelings to the audience by comparing his attitude and ideas to anyone that could simply read. Gibson argues that Hughes used his poems in hopes of a better America not only to African Americans but for everyone of the human race. In this poem, the speaker says “Tomorrow/I’ll be at the table/When company comes,” which concurs Gibson’s argument that Hughes wanted a better tomorrow. (8-10). Gibson presents a different, yet similar approach, that describes what and how Hughes was feeling when he turned his words into poetry, much like Chasar’s argument. Both of these articles have the same theory throughout them and that is what I think will help me to further develop my own argument. They both suggest that Hughes poetry is portrayed through laughter in an injustice
According to Chasar “black laughter not only challenged the acoustics of white power and served as a weapon in the struggle for political and social justice, but it also aggressively and bodily sounded what Houston Baker calls the strength of “an African ancestral past” (58). Chasar compares Hughes’ poetry to as “an elemental force connected to black power” (73). Chasar argues that Hughes tone of eating well and getting stronger is in reference to building a strong body but also a strong spirit. In a world of diversity and chaos at times, black laughter gave African Americans an opportunity to place words, in regards to oppression, and enabled them to hear a voice that shed light on the inequality that African Americans were enduring and therefore an opportunity to empower …show more content…
Gibson makes an equivalent argument in his article: “Introduction: To Modern Black Poets: A Collection of Critical essays.” Gibson’s main arguments are that during a time of oppression and through the use of poetry, Hughes was able to “spread his message humorously-though always serious-to audiences throughout the country.” (pp.7-8). Gibson compares Hughes to Walt Whitman as a “poet of the people.” Gibson provides more in-depth of how Hughes used poetry to convey his feelings to the audience by comparing his attitude and ideas to anyone that could simply read. Gibson argues that Hughes used his poems in hopes of a better America not only to African Americans but for everyone of the human race. In this poem, the speaker says “Tomorrow/I’ll be at the table/When company comes,” which concurs Gibson’s argument that Hughes wanted a better tomorrow. (8-10). Gibson presents a different, yet similar approach, that describes what and how Hughes was feeling when he turned his words into poetry, much like Chasar’s argument. Both of these articles have the same theory throughout them and that is what I think will help me to further develop my own argument. They both suggest that Hughes poetry is portrayed through laughter in an injustice