Over the last 153 years, American culture, society, and history have all been drastically changed. Authors from all over the country and from different time periods kept track of these changes through writing literature about their lives. Many of the poems, stories, and plays were America’s first form of broadcast news. Literature would spark revolutions that could cause change. Three changes that shaped America into what it is known as today were: women gaining independence, the integration of races and the change of how the public views war. Each issue can be categorized into societal, cultural and historical changes. American society changed perspectives on multiple quality of life issues throughout the last century and the outcome was
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There is a shift in the literature written by Langston Hughes from 1922 to 1949. “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair./ It had tacks in it,/ And places with no carpet on the floor—/ But all the time/ I’se been a-climbin’ on,” (lines 2, 3, 6, 8, 9. 1038) “Mother to Son” by Hughes in 1922. Hughe’s earlier poetry describes a life of hardships but he is very passive in his quest for equality. “I tire so of hearing people say,/ Let things take their course./ Tomorrow is another day./ I do not need my freedom when I’m dead./ I cannot live on tomorrow’s bread.” (1043) Whereas in “Democracy” written by Hughes in 1949, he is much more direct and passionate. 20 years after “Mother to Son” and Hughes is very direct about his fundamental need for freedom and equality. His directness and many other black author’s direct works of literature about mistreatment sped the culture change within America that lead to the acceptance of people of color. Hughes was apart of the influx of successful black artists, authors, and musicians into Harlem, New York; which came to be known as the Harlem Renaissance. As the authors gained notoriety for their work, their literature began spreading and open-mindedness began growing. This time period revived the spirits of many people of color because it proved that they could succeed in a country where they had been oppressed for so long. The shift of American culture from oppressive to inclusive is highlighted by Hughes contrasting pieces written within 20 years of each other. Hughes goals shifted from surviving from day to day to conquering his own life and American culture shifted from oppressive to
There is a shift in the literature written by Langston Hughes from 1922 to 1949. “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair./ It had tacks in it,/ And places with no carpet on the floor—/ But all the time/ I’se been a-climbin’ on,” (lines 2, 3, 6, 8, 9. 1038) “Mother to Son” by Hughes in 1922. Hughe’s earlier poetry describes a life of hardships but he is very passive in his quest for equality. “I tire so of hearing people say,/ Let things take their course./ Tomorrow is another day./ I do not need my freedom when I’m dead./ I cannot live on tomorrow’s bread.” (1043) Whereas in “Democracy” written by Hughes in 1949, he is much more direct and passionate. 20 years after “Mother to Son” and Hughes is very direct about his fundamental need for freedom and equality. His directness and many other black author’s direct works of literature about mistreatment sped the culture change within America that lead to the acceptance of people of color. Hughes was apart of the influx of successful black artists, authors, and musicians into Harlem, New York; which came to be known as the Harlem Renaissance. As the authors gained notoriety for their work, their literature began spreading and open-mindedness began growing. This time period revived the spirits of many people of color because it proved that they could succeed in a country where they had been oppressed for so long. The shift of American culture from oppressive to inclusive is highlighted by Hughes contrasting pieces written within 20 years of each other. Hughes goals shifted from surviving from day to day to conquering his own life and American culture shifted from oppressive to