Racism as Viewed in American Poetry

             Racism is a major issue in America. Racism is still present today; even those would not consider himself or herself racist have used some sort of racist remark or gesture. Racism does not only affect a person with more or less melanin, but can also affect people with different religious backgrounds or beliefs.
             Both "Theme for English B", and "Telephone Conversation" was written by African American poets .The major concepts in both poems mainly showed examples of racism. Langston Hughes's poem Theme for English B is a complicated piece, which is able to stimulate the mind of any person that is willing to look deep into it. This poem touches on the present topics of racism, commonality and differences, with insights on how people are so frequent to prejudge others without even knowing them. In comparison, the "Telephone Conversation" has two main obvious themes, racism and the lack of education.
             Both poems are written in first person, which makes it easier for the reader to understand. In Soyinka' poem the speaker conveys his disappointment and anger about being discriminated against by portraying the telephone conversation between himself and the British landlady. On the other hand, Hughes's poem mainly focused on an African American student's experience with his Caucasian teacher. The poem deals with a black students attempt to understand his identity, he stated, "let it come out of you, then it will be true". Though, both Poems spoke on the same concepts, Soyinka' poem clearly took place in England, whereas Hughes's poem took place in Harlem. Racism was present around the world. However, while the two poems basically portray a similar theme, the narrator in Telephone Conversation' is a pleading, meeker character compared to the more confrontational, confident persona of Theme for English B.
             Both poems were written in free verse, meaning there was no set rhyme scheme. Th...

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