Prairie du Chien

Poetry Explication on “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” Langston Hughes's poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” is about becoming free. The speaker states that he has been to several places around the world. Each one of these places progressively gets more free. This is until the speaker ends with the time when “Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans”(7). Which was the final step for African Americans and their freedom. By doing this, Hughes’s speaker implies that the African American’s journey to freedom…

In the poem “Harlem,” Langston Hughes examines the repercussions that could result from postponing an aspiration. The aspiration Hughes is referring to is achieving racial equality in America. He uses similes with imagery to clearly show what can happen when a dream is put off by an individual or by society as a whole. The first image that Hughes uses is “a raisin in the sun”(Hughes, line 3). A raisin is something that was once fresh, but, due to being in a harsh setting, has decayed and…

bachelor’s degree at Fisk, he attended Harvard University. After completing his master’s degree he was selected to study abroad at the University of Berlin. Dubois was the first African American to achieve a Ph.D. from Harvard in 1895. Not long after that Du bois published his first writing piece published as “A Philadelphia Negro”: a social study in 1899. This was the start of his writing career. Dubois wrote 21 books, edited 15 more, and published over 100 essays and articles. Dubois also…

furnish teachers, ministers, lawyers, and doctors, do black people need nothing of the sort?” (Du Bois). Today, this question is a foregone conclusion for anyone. In the 1800’s and early 1900’s, this question might have been harder for some to answer correctly, not because they didn’t know the answer, but because their strong racial discrimination was standing in the way of common sense. William Edward Burghardt Du Bois dedicated his entire life to the betterment of the African community around…

During my research, it was discovered that the method to deliver hidden messages was not only done by musicians, but writers as well. Some writers were part of an esotericism group, which means these set of people have a special knowledge of coding in their art. Among these esoteric groups of Harlem Renaissance writers, one of the most important of which is James Mercer Langston Hughes. Hughes was American poet, columnist, novelist, playwright, and a social activist. Even more, he was the…

In this section, Du Bois described that life in America in general for African Americans was not easy. He believed in change starting with yourself. His plan was to the struggle black equality for abolishment of racism to the people who wanted to “separate black nation” He wanted the blacks to recognize themselves as “a nation within a nation” He didn’t want them to look for white people help to change. He wanted the blacks to see themselves as a nation who can work their way up. For example, he…

Both Du Bois and Washington agree that there is nothing inherently different between blacks and whites. Washington notes in The Future of the American Negro that “The Negro is behind the white man because he has not had the same chance, and not from any inherent difference in his nature and desires” (27). Du Bois regards a similar mentality in his essay on art “Criteria of Negro Art” expounding that “art coming from black folk is going to be just as beautiful … as the art that comes from white…

The majority of the population assumes that the Harlem Renaissance was a period in which racial prejudice and segregation was tolerated. As some discriminatory activity did occur, several African Americans did not endure the same physical abuse from the caucasian race as before. This era originated the period in which African-American achievements in art, music, and literature flourished. As the diversity in the United States continued to expand, more and more African Americans were living…

In the short story “Salvation” Langston Hughes describes his traumatizing experience at a religious revival as a twelve-year-old boy. The revival was a popular event that occurred in town for ongoing days and one his Aunt Reed had attended every night. On the final day of the event, the children of worshippers were invited to the congregation to receive salvation from Christ. Before the event, Aunt Reed had explained to young Langston that once he became saved he would see a light, meaning Jesus…

Langston Hughes’ poem “I, Too” from 1925 reflects on the humiliation African Americans were tired of experiencing during the Harlem Renaissance; however, Hughes also ignites hope by looking forward towards a better future, free of this oppression. Hughes begins with a blunt proclamation of inclusion for patriotism, “I, too, sing America” (1090). He, as well as the rest of blacks, is an American who can sing along to a patriotic tune, regardless of the national prejudice. However, within the next…