“Recitatif” and "Harlem" Poem Analysis: Opening Readers' Minds
When we’re young we were taught the history of our country, The United States of America, and what our country was built on. The main national ethos of the U.S is the American Dream – the set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, as well as an upward social mobility for the family and children, achieved through hard work in a society with few barriers. Due to so much promise our imaginations run wild with all the goals and dreams we want to achieve. However, as we get older, reality starts to kick in and we become more rational about our goals. Life and society throw plenty of hurdles along the way, and for some people there are more than there are for others. In the poem Harlem, while I was doing the poem analysis, I have noticed that Hughes asks the question “What happens to a dream deferred?” which he is referring specifically to the dreams of African Americans, who face an abundance of obstacles on a day-to-day basis more than most races. But, why does Hughes use different similes to describe what happens to those lost dreams? I believe by using certain similes he is able to paint a visual picture for the reader. By doing so the reader is able to analyze each of those visual depictions in terms of the emotions of the narrator.
Literary Depiction of Stuggles That 'People of Color' Faced With
The first image in the poem suggests that the dream dries up like a raisin. Hughes depicts a dream that was once a living thing, but because it was neglected for too long it dried up and became lifeless. Due to the outdated socially constructed ideology of race, the American people and society as a whole have been struggling to reverse the social consequences of racism. For centuries people of color have and still hope for equality, respect, and the opportunities to have the ability to accomplish what they want in life. However, people of color have been and are still being oppressed; as a result they feel the need to overcompensate their character to prove to be a kind-hearted, hardworking, and well-mannered individual. Whether it’s for a job opportunity, being pulled over by the police, shopping, or simply being social with others. People of color have put so much of their energy into being perceived positively by others, instead of being judged by the color of their skin. This can really have a negative impact on someone’s self-esteem and drain them of their ambitions. As a result, their dreams end up neglected to the point they dry up and shrink, become minimal.
In the short story “Recitatif” Morrison shines light on Maggie’s disabilities, especially involving her being mute. “Maggie fell down there once. The kitchen woman with legs like parentheses… Maggie couldn’t talk. The kids said she had her tongue cut out, but I think she was just born that way: mute.” I believe Morrison used these particular descriptions about Maggie to signify how racism is still present in society. Maggie represents racism in a way that people easily overlook those who they consider to be outcasts in society, as well as how people silence the new issues involving racism. The extreme “old racism” that blatantly suppressed people of color may have come to an end during the civil rights era. However, unless you know where to look or what to listen for: hidden prejudice, implicit bias, and even the ideology of color blindness are all a part of the emergence of the “new racism” which are subtle, quiet, almost hidden. I relate this to the second simile in Hughes’ poem, “Or fester like a sore—And then run? ”. This simile conveys a sense of infection and pain. By comparing the dream to a sore on the body, Hughes implies that unfulfilled dreams become part of us, like an old injury that never heals because it’s constantly being reopened and has gathered pus. This is significant to the pain that one has when one's dreams are always being deferred. Especially when it is the consequence of something that is out of anyone’s control, such as skin color. Racism is a longstanding injury in the American society that has yet to heal due to people’s ignorance and turning a blind eye on the issues people of color face. The pain from the wounds of racism will stay present until we take it upon ourselves to make a positive difference. Yes we have made progress since the civil rights movement, however as individuals and as a society we have quite a ways to go before everyone from every background has access to the same opportunities and is treated equal.
Conclusion
Both writers, Toni Morrison and Langston Hughes, used their creative writing skills to accurately depict the struggles that people of color deal with in such a way that challenges the reader to look more in depth behind the meaning. Rather than take it at a face value. The readers are compelled to think outside the box, as well as reflect on different perspectives other than their own. I believe Toni Morrison and Langston Hughes wanted to bring awareness to the privileges that some of the readers may benefit from that others are not as fortunate to experience; from shopping, to legal issues, to renting an apartment, to simply feeling welcomed by others out in public when you interact with them, as well as plenty of other benefits. A lot of people with those privileges take them for granted, rather than recognize how those advantages give them a head start in life. For others, due to not having the right tools to build their dream, that was once full of life and promise, people will lose hope and settle for less. By opening the reader’s minds to a better understanding of privilege from a different perspective can help us identify the resources we have available to empower ourselves, assist others, and perhaps reduce inequality that continues to cripple our society.
