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Langston Hughes is a key figure in the vision of the American dream. In his writings his African-American perspective gives an accurate vision of what the American dream means to a less fortunate minority. His poetry is very loud and emotional in conveying his idea of the African-American dream. Most of his poetry either states how the black man is being suppressed or is a wish, a plea for equality. He does not want the black man to be better than everyone else, but just to be treated equal.
Able to meet their dream with the same level of success and failure as everyone else. This is most simply stated in Hughes poem I Dream a World. Hughes begins the poem by stating: I Dream a World where man No other man will scorn, Where love will bless the earth And peace its paths adorn (World Lines 1 - 4) Here Hughes is stating very generally and unspecific how he wishes for peace and love. Something that everyone would like but will probably never come true. This statement is an excellent attention getter. It tells about a dream that everyone would like without singling out any group of people to blame for the dream not coming true.
Then as the poem goes on he gets more and more specific. Hughes then goes on to dream that everyone Will know sweet freedoms way, /Where greed no longer saps the soul. (World lines 6 - 7) Here Hughes is wishing to abolish greed. He is hoping that not only the rich will be able to know what it is truly like to be free. Hughes goes on to state: A world I dream where black or white, Whatever race you be, Will share the bounties of the earth And every man is free (World lines 9 - 12) Here Hughes is stating that not only should the poor know what it is like to be free but race should not be a barrier as well. So no matter what your level of income or race, everyone should be able to enjoy life and freedom without obligation. Another one of Hughes poems where his dream is stated is Dream Variations.
This poem is much more vague in the way Hughes chooses to states his dream. The poem opens by stating: To fling my arms wide In some place of the sun To whirl and to dance Till the white day is done. Then rest at cool evening Beneath a tall tree While night comes on gently, Dark like me Tat is my dream! (Variations lines 1 - 9) Here Hughes is stating how he wishes he could be free without a care in the world. He wishes to whirl and dance (Variations line 3) meaning to do as he wishes and not to be controlled as a slave.
The White day (Variations line 4) is the daytime in which slaves must work. When he states Night Dark like me (Variations line 8) he is welcoming the night. Because it is the time when he is not working as a slave. It is the time he has to himself. Just him and his thoughts. The second half of this poem is just a restatement of the first.
Except it is louder and more emotional. Hughes states: To fling my arms wide In some place of the sun, Till the quick day is done. Rest at pale evening A tall, slim tree Night coming tenderly Black like me. (Variations lines 10 - 17) The second half of this poem starts exactly like the first. However, it grows louder and louder, it almost sounds like Hughes is screaming. It seams as if Hughes is frustrated, as if he realizes that his dream may never come true.
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Research essay sample on American Dream Second Half
