The theme of the story " As I Grew Older" by Langston Hughes is, no matter what stands in your way fight for your dream. Hughes showcases the fact that racism and discrimination can hold African Americans back from accomplishing their dreams but, through the struggles they can triumph over racism The theme of the story "Dream Variations" by Langston Hughes is, the poem symbolizes what Hughes interprets as a perfect world without racism and discrimination. The main symbol in both poems is dark skin , and how Hughes shows that his skin means a great deal to him . Hughes also shows in both stories how racism tries to destroy dreams. Another major symbol of both stories is freedom and how the characters want to be free and enjoy life. Hughes wants African Americans to fight for their dreams and stand up for their rights.
             In the poem "As I Grew Older", the first stanza represents the birth of a goal or dream, and as the poem progresses Hughes showcases that the dream begins to diminish behind the walls of adulthood, as he grows older. As the poem flows it's almost as if the white people make Hughes almost give up on his dream until he realizes he can not let them succeed and take away his pride. The wall symbolizes the white people and their holding black people back from accomplishing their dreams. The wall rising slowly represents how hard it is for the black people in society, and how much they have to suffer. "And then the wall rose, Rose slowly,"(7" The wall represents the hardships of the black people and all the struggles they deal with before they can overcome their dreams. Hughes encourages the fact that black people shouldn't hopelessly accept the fact that they are being treated unfairly.
             The mood of the poem "As I Grew Older" is very encouraging of letting black people know if you have a dream you can fight for it, and be happy within your skin. The poem start...