1. Harlem Renaissance Review
Review the Harlem Renaissance and its impact on culture and society!

2. Langston Hughes
What are 5 things you learned about Langston Hughes life?
What do you think influences his writings?

3. Langston Hughes and the American Dream
“Let America Be America Again”
Published in Esquire in 1938
This is only the beginning of it
As a whole, it examines the unfulfilled American dream for African Americans, immigrants, and poor people
Appears to be hopeless; however, towards the end, the speaker declares “America will be!”

4. Why would Hughes have felt that “America never was America to me”?
Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.
(America never was America to me.)
Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed-- Let it be that great strong land of love Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme That any man be crushed by one above.
(It never was America to me.)
O, let my land be a land where Liberty Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath, But opportunity is real, and life is free, Equality is in the air we breathe.
(There's never been equality for me, Nor freedom in this "homeland of the free.")
Why would Hughes have felt that “America never was America to me”?
What did Hughes think about the American dream?
How does this represent the ideas of the Harlem Renaissance?

5. “I, Too” You will discuss this poem “I, Too”
With a partner- Fill out the Questions –ONLY DO STEP 1
Write two discussion questions about Theme, Tone, Speaker, Figurative Language, Diction, Connotation, or Imagery.
****You have 15 minutes to finish the sheet. Do not waste time. Be prepared to discuss; I will call on you at random!

6. Your Turn! Now write your own Poem.
1. Write a poem (10-15 lines) where you address an issue in America that you think needs to change!
2.You should use the same style as Langston Hughes.
3. Create a visual image to go with your poem that mirrors the imagery you use in the poem.
Be creative. We will share these at the end of class.

7. “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” Hughes p.882
•Who is the speaker of the poem?
•What figurative language does he use?
•Who does the poet use parallel structure?  What does that parallelism emphasize?
•Identify where the poet uses imagery.  What senses does that imagery relate to?
•Using all this information, create a SEES that answers the following question: 
What techniques does the speaker use to show his connection to history?