The roles between African-American music and dance that Hughes creates seem to be different, yet similar, in that music appears to be depressing, maybe even boring, while dancing and music both seem to be relaxing. The first thing that he states is “droning a drowsy syncopated tune… I heard a Negro play” (The Weary Blues, 1;3). This identifies that the music he is able to hear, comes from an African American. It may also signify that Hughes could have felt bored while listening to this music. In addition, he claims that [the African-American] played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool” (The Weary Blues, 13). The language that Hughes uses in his poetry makes it clear that African-American music sounds depressing in that he directly says
