Langston Hughes The unrelenting rebel in a culture against his race… Tyler Lahey, Fabian Bock, Lorenz Ekerdt

Democracy Democracy will not come Today, this year Nor ever Through compromise and fear. I have as much right As the other fellow has To stand On my two feet And own the land. 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. Freedom Is a strong seed Planted In a great need. I live here, too. I want freedom Just as you.

The Life Story Elected class poet in grammar school by white classmates-started poetry, He spent time with his father who endured racism His father left for Mexico because he was angry about racism Left Columbia University because of racial prejudice His main home was Harlem Visited Russia and sported Communist views

Langston Hughes Lived before time of African American equality He is ahead of his time America is referred to as segregated and NOT a "Land of Opportunity" Received with anger in his time, now a respected poet

Themes in Hughes’s Poems Jazz Equality Harlem- his home for many years “I, too, sing America.” “I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen when company comes,”

Consistencies in Hughes’s Poetry Relevant to His Past Struggle for equality African American culture Hope Justice- “America was never America to me.” Pain

Consistencies of Lit. Devices Relevant to his Beliefs Some rhyming Some metaphors Either very serious or very carefree He likes to make points on life and government Short, effective pieces

A poet’s words have deeper meaning… Hughes contemplated suicide As a child his family underwent racial discrimination Lived in Harlem- writes about African American culture Lived in a world where his culture and race were undermined No marriage -few love poems Writes about controversial topics

Literary Criticism We Felt Relevant “Sad, Touching” “Theme- negro's quiet resistance to white oppression” “Often very musical; jazz”

Criticism That Doesn’t Deserve to Be There “Hughes an artist who does not stand in his own light.” “Creates only impressions” “Not serious”

Justice “That Justice is a blind goddess; Is a thing to which we black are wise: Her bandage hides two festering sores That once perhaps were eyes.”

Dream Deferred What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?