Negro By Langston Hughes: How And Why The Black Community Is Represented In A Particular Way

The Poem “Negro” is by Langston Hughes and is based in 1922, in the neighbourhood of Harlem, New York. Langston Hughes was a representative of the African-American community and reflects this in his work. This poem presents the historical context of the black community as Hughes hugely respects his ancestors achievement of overcoming all the racism they faced. It is fundamentally based upon assuring blackness and distinguishes how his poetry is different from the white avant-garde poets his time revolved around. This essay evaluates how and why the context, structure, lexus and literary techniques are evident in the poem, representing how is virtuous and strong and how/why this specific social group is presented in a certain way.

Hughes describes himself as having been a slave worker, singer and victim, these techniques reference and emphasise the incarnations that black people have encountered throughout history. It personifies the African-American experience and because of how much of a strong speaker he is, it declares an identity and unifies the audience. This idea is further outlined where first person is used consistently throughout the poem and demonstrates the bond that he feels with his ancestors, “I’ve been a slave”. From a lexus point of view, the racial slur “negro” wasn’t considered a profanity, however this has changed since the late 1960’s. The Civil Rights Movement generated people to sympathise for the black community and understand the inequality that white people are imposing upon them.

The diction of the poem is very simple and accessible to understand, this effective syntax is to allow everyone to be knowledgeable of its meaning. His diction portrays his tone for the poem, direct and the epitome of simplicity. The poet refers to “night” continuously in his poem, this links to the semantic field of darkness and shadows. It is a metaphor for how African-Americans were in the dark and how they have overcome this and they are able to reminisce and reflect. The way Langston Hughes has portrayed the poem is by blending between classical poetry and jazz music. This is a unique feature that does not segregate any society as it appealed to both white and black communities of that era, showing unity. In the poem Africa is referred to as having “depths”, this technique resembles the beauty and love that Hughes has for his country. The black community that is presented in “Negro” show the optimism that they have towards the future. The poem is a description of the pride and triumph that the black community celebrate because they are no longer oppressed. In the second stanza, Caesar and George Washington are mentioned, “Caesar told me to keep his door-steps clean. I brushed the boots of Washington”. These men are both symbols of great powers and it emphasises the way the black people were not respected even though they honoured others. The poet, Hughes, presents ironic remarks as African-Americans made a huge contribution to the makings of America, however they are shunned upon, “I made the mortar for the Woolworth building”. This maintains the proud and reflective declarations the poem is based upon. This also refers to the oppression they struggled with throughout the forceful years of slavery. The last line of the third stanza reads, “I made ragtime”, this is a reference to the Jazz music they made and how it was scorned upon by the white supremacists. It also refers to the musical impact African-Americans had in America, specially at that time.

Another mention to the influential black music is the reference to “sorrow songs”. This mirrors the songs that were derived during slavery and their times of hardship. Music in the African-American community is entirely based on the human spirit and the extraordinary power it has. The last stanza is a repetition of the first. This literary technique concedes the reader to reflect on the poem and recognise its meaning. It may create the reader to feel emotion and sympathise with how the black society/ social group was and still are being treated. The poem resonates with many African-Americans because the events that are described throughout are true history, and it indulges many of them to think about how far their people have come. The audience is able to understand the pain and misfortune the poet is reflecting through his words as he specifies the different roles of a “negro”. Hughes uses this poem to show the hardships that black people have faced and these bad habits have not been abolished. The need for something to change is evident.

Within this poem African-Americans are portrayed as victims of a great affliction, nonetheless they are still strong. The poem links to the history of racism and how black people were enslaved to do as the white man says without any alternative. However, it also illustrates the strong and beautiful strength that they have, their patience is powerful and even through their struggles they carried on surviving. This may create an African-American reader in that time to still have hope that things will change. For someone reading now it will allow them to understand their history and how they should fight for something they believe in and never give up as ‘the light is always at the end of the tunnel”.