In the poem, “Theme for English B”, by Langston Hughes, Hughes speaks about how Harlem has brought all cultures together and how the city gives people a voice when they feel like they don’t have one. Hughes does this by using visual imagery and painting a picture of the unity that Harlem makes when bringing cultures together. He also uses structure to emphasize how stepping into Harlem allows for people to have voice and, finally Hughes uses metaphors to compare Harlem to the famous melting pot that America is, to show that we are all united as one. Hughes paints a picture of what a colored person likes along with also suggesting that a white person likes these things too. For example, in the stanzas twenty-two through twenty-six, he says.
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This is seen clearly in stanza twenty-five, “I guess being colored doesn’t make me not like the same things other folks like/ who are the other races.” It is clearly seen in this stanza that Hughes is saying a colored person is not different from a non-colored since both of them can relate to liking the same music, and wanting the same gifts fro Christmas. Hughes uses this image to paint an even bigger image that can be tied to Harlem as a whole. For example, the stanzas shown previously were written when the student entered Harlem, which emphasizes that once you enter Harlem cultures become united. Which can lead to the idea that everyone can enjoy the same things no matter the color of their …show more content…
The metaphor is found in the stanza thirty-two and it says, “You are white yet a part of me, as I am part of you. That’s American.” (31-33), by reading that line Hughes is not only using a simile to compare Harlem to a melting pot, but he’s also using metaphors. Stanza thirty one and thirty two show that even though the professor is white, and the student is colored, they both alike due to what America is known for, which is being a melting pot of cultures. I say this because the following stanza says, “That’s American.” (33), which is implying that America is just that, it’s a nation that is a mixture of races, which then makes us all alike in ways. Hughes uses this metaphor to show others that even though we might have different skin colors, Harlem is a great example of different cultures coming together to enjoy music, art,
This is seen clearly in stanza twenty-five, “I guess being colored doesn’t make me not like the same things other folks like/ who are the other races.” It is clearly seen in this stanza that Hughes is saying a colored person is not different from a non-colored since both of them can relate to liking the same music, and wanting the same gifts fro Christmas. Hughes uses this image to paint an even bigger image that can be tied to Harlem as a whole. For example, the stanzas shown previously were written when the student entered Harlem, which emphasizes that once you enter Harlem cultures become united. Which can lead to the idea that everyone can enjoy the same things no matter the color of their …show more content…
The metaphor is found in the stanza thirty-two and it says, “You are white yet a part of me, as I am part of you. That’s American.” (31-33), by reading that line Hughes is not only using a simile to compare Harlem to a melting pot, but he’s also using metaphors. Stanza thirty one and thirty two show that even though the professor is white, and the student is colored, they both alike due to what America is known for, which is being a melting pot of cultures. I say this because the following stanza says, “That’s American.” (33), which is implying that America is just that, it’s a nation that is a mixture of races, which then makes us all alike in ways. Hughes uses this metaphor to show others that even though we might have different skin colors, Harlem is a great example of different cultures coming together to enjoy music, art,