Rivers of Old
Langston Hughes, a black poet of the early to mid 1900's, wrote of his nationality and background as coming from an African-American culture. In Hughes' poem, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers", he puts to use imagery in his words to show that his race is deserving of respect because they have survived a long period of time and have continually progressed on like that of a river. This respect is what the white man had at the time and what the colored folk did not have. The poem was created during a time of widespread prejudice and segregation movements throughout the United States. It explains the importance dealing with that of the history of the black race before this time and how it will continue to endure in America. This poem itself may have also impacted how the white people felt about the education of black men at the time. Langston Hughes progressed in his poem through a history of events that were various rivers provided in the world's civilization through time. All of these rivers have played a role in African descent in the past. He started where it all began, the center of civilization in the Middle East. He stated in his first image of a river, "I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young
He described the turning point as "all golden in the sunset(line 10). " Langston Hughes truly brings about a change here in his final image of the Mississippi River. These rivers are seemingly immortal and have lasted centuries like that of his African-American descent. This then leads us on to where they were now in America. He wrote, "I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it(line 7). " The beginning of a day likened to the beginning of creation and being formed with equality. Rivers are the life of the world just as blood gives life to humans. " Despite their struggles and adversity, in the end their prevalence would shine through. He writes that it begins in Euphrates like that of "when dawns were young(line 6). " It's not until they reach America where the light finally is becoming in full illumination, bright and steady. As imagery has proven, this race is deserving of respect because they have survived a long period of time and continually progressed on like that of a river. This nationality was undergoing opposition though the times of slavery and segregation movements but could now look forward to the bright, golden future to find the respect they deserved.
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