History in Langston Hughes's "Negro"
             The topic of Langston Hughes's "Negro" deals with an extremely
             general description of the history of African Americans or blacks from the
             pre-1922 era until 1922. Hughes lets the reader know about historic
             experiences of blacks to show us the impact that blacks have had in past
             eras. He touches on past, historical events, like the days of "Caesar" and
             the "Belgians...in the Congo" (5 and 15). The murderous oppression that
             Hughes speaks about uncovered when he says, "They lynch me still in
             Mississippi" (16). Hughes has made his poem more understandable by the use
             of such elements as setting and situation, speaker, tone and diction,
             The title, "Negro", explains two items in one word: who is the
             subject and what the poem is about. Hughes identifies himself by saying,
             "I am a Negro" (1 and 17). Then Hughes describes the works of the Negro by
             using the terms "slave," "worker," "singer," and "victims" (4, 7, 10, and
             14). The first example is a situation that has taken place in Africa;
             the second in the United States. Finally, Hughes uses repetition of the
             first and last stanza to conclude his poem. To thoroughly understand the
             point that Hughes is making, one must take an enhanced inspection at
             certain elements that Hughes uses throughout the poem.
             In "Negro", Hughes gives the reader a compact visual exposé of the
             historical life of blacks. He does not tell the reader in detail about
             what has happened to blacks; therefore, Hughes allows these actual accounts
             to marinate in the mind of the reader. Instead of saying that he[Hughes]
             is a black man living in America, he simply says that "I am a Negro" (1 and
             17). He does not create a mysterious aura about blacks, but leaves that up
             to the reader. Thinking, on the reader's behalf, plays a major part in
             understanding "Negro." The different meanings that this poem has is
             ...