ASolomon

Langston Hughes  “Negroes - Sweet and docile, Meek, humble, and kind: Beware the day - They change their mind.”

Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri to a mother supporting his writings and a father with whom he had deep conflict. He was raised by his grandmother, a former abolitionist. She was able to instill the values of freedom and equality in Hughes from a very young age. Hughes was a proponent for the communist party because they promoted equality for all. Hughes is considered one of the greatest writers during the [|Harlem Renaissance]and, today, one of the greatest writers of all time.

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The Weary Blues __ Droning a drowsy syncopated tune, Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon, I heard a Negro play. Down on Lenox Avenue the other night By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light He did a lazy sway. . . He did a lazy sway. . . To the tune o' those Weary Blues. With his ebony hands on each ivory key He made that poor piano moan with melody. O Blues! Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool. Sweet Blues! Coming from a black man's soul. O Blues! In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan-- "Ain't got nobody in all this world, Ain't got nobody but ma self. I's gwine to quit ma frownin' And put ma troubles on the shelf." Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor. He played a few chords then he sang some more-- "I got the Weary Blues And I can't be satisfied. Got the Weary Blues And can't be satisfied-- I ain't happy no mo' And I wish that I had died." And far into the night he crooned that tune. The stars went out and so did the moon. The singer stopped playing and went to bed While the Weary Blues echoed through his head. He slept like a rock or a man that's dead.  "The Weary Blues" is a poem exonerating the beauty of blues. Hughes utilizes an assortment of literary devises to resonate an experience of blues music. His use of alliteration, “drowning a drowsy,” assonance, also found in the previous quote, onomatopoeia, “thump, thump, thump,” as well as the rhyme scheme helps to create the smooth vibe and off kilter syncopation found in blues music. The poem, in its most trivial form, is of a man having the opportunity to listen to a performer sing blues and relating to it. When dissecting the poem, the reader realizes it is about the importance of blues music during the Harlem Renaissance. Blues is the voice of black people during that time. When Hughes is quoted, “droning a drowsy syncopated tune,” this is interpreting blues music as being sorrowful and a struggle. The true meaning is exemplified when the performer sings the lyrics, “ain’t got nobody in all this world…and put ma troubles on de shelf.” When the performer sings, “I ain’t happy no mo’ and I wish that I had died,” he or she is using the blues to take away any pain they may have. Hughes later scribes, “with his ebony hands on each ivory key he made that poor piano moan with melody.” This line gives recognition to black musicians, as well as artists, who were able to take something from the white culture and evolve it into something of their own. In Hughes personification of the piano, “made that poor piano moan,” a symbol is beginning to usurp. In regards to taking their own culture, there is reluctance from the piano, it moans, suggesting that it is not in compliance. However to state it “moans with melody” shows blacks overcoming this reluctance. The poem, in addition, gives a sense of community. Although the poem explicitly states there are just the singer and man listening, there is also the audience for whom the poem is to. The last three lines, “the singer stopped playing…or a man that’s dead,” demonstrate what would happen if black people did not have the blues. Once the man stopped singing he seemed to be dead. For the black community, the blues gives them the will to continue to fight for justice and a means for their voices to be heard. I believe the poem is a beautiful interpretation of the importance of blues music. When hearing blues we listen to the singers sing a harmonious melody, not realizing the impact blues had on black people during the Harlem Renaissance. This poem is an excellent example of the adversity the black culture has faced and how they were able to create something as elegant and melodious as blues music. Hughes uses this poem to praise blues music and show other non-black cultures its true significance.

__"Note on Commercial Theatre" __ You've taken my blues and gone -- You sing 'em on Broadway And you sing 'em in Hollywood Bowl, And you mixed 'em up with symphonies And you fixed 'em So they don't sound like me. Yep, you done taken my blues and gone. You also took my spirituals and gone You put me in //Macbeth// and //Carmen Jones// All kinds of //Swing Mikados// And in everything but what's about me -- But someday somebody'll Stand up and talk about me -- Black and beautiful -- And sing about me, And put on plays about me! I reckon it'll be Me myself! Yes, it'll be me

In this poem, Hughes is showing how the white culture has exploited the black culture. He uses the blues, a musical spawn from the Harlem Renaissance. He is saying that his culture is not truly respected, but a mere trend. In his poem Hughes uses repetition, “And you…” along with allusions to white, or western, culture. The reader can feel the Hughes’ anger towards the white culture. Repeating the line, “and you…” helps in placing the blame on western culture and invoking a feeling of infuriation. He shows his anger with the lack of rhyme scheme which helps in creating a voice pattern similar to people’s voices when enraged. He also chooses to use a common, black vernacular when addressing the white people. This is very interesting because he is not following the trend of what white people consider proper and instead being an individual. Hughes makes allusions to western culture by stating that black people’s works are now sung on Broadway and Hollywood Bowl. By using these allusions Hughes is suggesting that they have taken the meaning of what these blues songs are about and have created a commercial text from it. The music that was once about their struggles now means nothing. Later he says, “you put me in Macbeth and Carmen Jones and all kinds of swing Mikados,” showing how the black culture, at some point, was deemed worthless, but once they earned some recognition the white culture took it for their own. He later ends the poem by suggesting that there will be a time when he can perform his own works and they will still have its true meanings. The poem is groundbreaking in that it explicitly states what one is feeling without having to use the similes and metaphors to hide it. Hughes captured black musicians’ angst after realizing their music had been transformed into its most minute form and became a trend.

__Theme for English B__ The instructor said, Go home and write a page tonight. And let that page come out of you--- Then, it will be true. I wonder if it's that simple? I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem. I went to school there, then Durham, then here to this college on the hill above Harlem. I am the only colored student in my class. The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem through a park, then I cross St. Nicholas, Eighth Avenue, Seventh, and I come to the Y, the Harlem Branch Y, where I take the elevator up to my room, sit down, and write this page: It's not easy to know what is true for you or me at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I'm what I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you: hear you, hear me---we two---you, me, talk on this page. (I hear New York too.) Me---who? Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love. I like to work, read, learn, and understand life. I like a pipe for a Christmas present, or records---Bessie, bop, or Bach. I guess being colored doesn't make me NOT like the same things other folks like who are other races. So will my page be colored that I write? Being me, it will not be white. But it will be a part of you, instructor. You are white--- yet a part of me, as I am a part of you. That's American. Sometimes perhaps you don't want to be a part of me. Nor do I often want to be a part of you. But we are, that's true! As I learn from you, I guess you learn from me--- although you're older---and white--- and somewhat more free. This is my page for English B.

In this poem, a black student has been assigned a writing task. This student’s dilemma is how to write a paper that is “true” when “true” could have different meanings between the two cultures that are supposedly different. The student begins to list all the reasons why he is different, “I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem.” He later questions why he would know what is true and begins to list his own likings. Nevertheless, while writing he realizes that these cultures are the same, desiring the same comforts and listening to the same music. Unlike many of Hughes earlier poems, he does not use an orthodox rhyme scheme. In not using a rhyme scheme the poem becomes more realistic. The poem is about finding racial equality. Hughes uses comparison and contrast to enhance the theme. For illustration, Hughes writes, “Well, I like to eat, sleep… or Bach.” The comparisons suggest these seemingly exiguous actions, or objects, done everyday are performed by everyone. In listing his likes he is destroying the stereotypes that have been placed that keep each culture separate. The most interesting comparison is when the student writes that he likes to listen to Bach. This is intriguing because Bach is music that is linked to upper-class and intelligence. By using Bach, in specifics, he is showing his capacity of learning and understanding, which helps in demolishing the stigmatism of the ignorant black man. The instructor is also central in the student’s realization, in that she or he is the student’s guide. What allows the student to realize they are all the same is the open-endedness to the topic presented. Resonating in the student’s mind is the instructor’s last line, “then, it will be true.” While writing the paper the student questions if it will be different because he, a black person, is writing it and it will be received by a white person. Then he says that whatever the case it will still be a part of both of them. This is interesting because there is a questioning of what makes an American, of which he later discovers, “That’s American. Sometimes perhaps you don’t want to be a part of me. Nor do I often want to be a part of you. But we are, that’s true! As I learn from you, I guess you learn from me- although you’re older-and white- and somewhat more free.” This essay is commendable because it is exposing all of the racial myths that white and black are not equal. This is, once more, the student exploiting the freedom of the topic presented, because what he has written is “true.”

<span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Segoe Script'; font-size: 18pt; language: en-US; msoasciifontfamily: 'Segoe Script'; msobidifontfamily: +mn-cs; msocolorindex: 1; msofareastfontfamily: +mn-ea; msofontkerning: 12.0pt; text-align: center;">“I swear to the Lord, I still can't see, why Democracy means, everybody but me.” media type="youtube" key="h7QGU9wq5Dw" width="425" height="350" align="center"

<span style="color: red; display: block; font-family: 'Sylfaen','serif'; font-size: 180%; text-align: center;">e.e. cummings <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Segoe Script'; font-size: 16pt; language: en-US; msoasciifontfamily: 'Segoe Script'; msobidifontfamily: +mn-cs; msocolorindex: 1; msofareastfontfamily: +mn-ea; msofontkerning: 12.0pt; text-align: center;">"America makes prodigious mistakes, America has colossal faults, but one thing cannot be denied: America is always on the move. She may be going to Hell, of course, but at least she isn't standing still." <span style="font-family: 'Sylfaen','serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Born Edward Estlin Cummings, he is the son Edward Cummings a professor of sociology and political science at Harvard University. cummings attended Harvard University. He graduated and volunteered for the Norton-Haires Ambulance Corps in France the day after the United States entered World War II. He, along with a friend met while volunteering, wrote incriminating letters showcasing their contempt towards the bureaucracy. cummings and his friend were later imprisoned for their outspokenness. This made cummings upset that he was imprisoned by the side for which he worked. His despise towards bureaucracy can be found in many of his poems. Along with this theme, in his modernist works one can find a clever formal innovation, loving lyricism, and the celebration of the individual.

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<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Plantagenet Cherokee','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">__“next to of course god america i__ <span style="font-family: 'Plantagenet Cherokee','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">"next to of course god america i love you land of the pilgrims' and so forth oh say can you see by the dawn's early my country 'tis of centuries come and go and are no more what of it we should worry in every language even deafanddumb thy sons acclaim your glorious name by gorry by jingo by gee by gosh by gum why talk of beauty what could be more beaut- iful than these heroic happy dead who rushed like lions to the roaring slaughter they did not stop to think they died instead then shall the voice of liberty be mute?" He spoke. And drank rapidly a glass of water

<span style="font-family: 'Sylfaen','serif'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> In this poem e.e. cummings attempts to show the damaging effects of extreme patriotism through sarcasm. The audience can see his disdain towards bureaucracy. He uses other literary devices to enhance sarcasm. One of the devices used is allusion seen when quoted, “oh say can you see by the dawn’s early my country ‘tis,” two direct quotations from American patriotic songs. He also uses a simile, “who rushed like lions to the roaring slaughter.” It is intriguing how cummings does not have god, america, or i capitalized. It humbles these figures that, as a society, is placed so much value on. Later cummings sarcastically quotes, “land of the pilgrims,” which wholly discredits the foundation of Americanism and the American identity. He is rebuking the patriotism found from the American identity, suggesting that the history that is taught is totally falsified. Continuing the poem it is later said, “thy sons acclaim your glorious name by gorry,” which is once again admonishing the history that American society has used to create their devotion. The word “gorry” has been misspelled from its original gory. This is a jab at creating American patriotism in that when first attempting to create its own identity, America would often change the spelling of words. In the simile mentioned previously, “who rushed like lions to the roaring slaughter,” cummings is attempting to tell these loyalists to not be so rushed in acting on your need to be patriotic. This line is a comparison of the lion to a strong heroine, a common assessment to soldiers. Later he quotes, “to the roaring slaughter” which shows the reality of acting so hastily, in this case being death. cummings is portraying the vulnerability that is often left out of the idea of nationalism. The poem is enclosed within quotation marks suggesting it is an address to an audience. The last line is of the man discussing, then a long pause, followed by him drinking quickly. The man drinking so rapidly shows his wariness and nervousness of voicing his opinion. The sizeable space between the last two sentences allows someone to comprehend what the man had previously stated. This line shows the importance of speaking the truth whether faced with opposition. This is an excellent poem. cummings successfully uses sarcasm to show the imbecility behind what, as a society, we deem a laudable history actually being a record of shame. His interpretation of where extreme patriotism comes from and its effects are accurate.

<span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Plantagenet Cherokee','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msobidifontfamily: 'Courier New'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center;">__Buffalo Bill’s__ <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Plantagenet Cherokee','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> Buffalo Bill's

defunct

who used to ride a watersmooth-silver

stallion

and break onetwothreefourfive pigeonsjustlikethat

Jesus

he was a handsome man

and what i want to know is

how do you like your blueeyed boy

Mister Death

<span style="font-family: 'Sylfaen','serif'; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">This poem is seemingly a memorial honoring Buffalo Bill. Buffalo Bill, real name William F. Cody, was an American soldier, a Wild West showman, and bison hunter. He earned his nickname, Buffalo Bill, by killing nearly five thousand buffalo’s in eight months. He later received the Medal of Honor in 1872 for his civilian work for the third cavalry regiment. The poem describes the works that Buffalo Bill had done. It begins with his stallion and him killing pigeons. e.e. cummings describes him as, “a handsome man,” and finally puts his name to shame by saying, “how do you like your blueeyed boy Mister Death.” This poem uses satire to its best extremity. This poem is about the idealized figure that the society tries to uphold, but is actually phony heroism. In the first two lines, “Buffalo Bill’s defunct,” cummings is putting to rest what is considered to be a hero. He does this by using the word defunct, meaning death. As the poem continues he writes, “ride a watersmooth-silver stallion and break onetwothreefourfive pigeonsjustlikethat JESUS.” The first part of the quote uses imagery to portray a beautiful horse, but only to have that beauty dismissed by the “breaking”, or killing, of the pigeons. cummings omits spaces between counting the pigeons to show the hastiness of the deed. Using hastiness shows a lack of thought, which consequently leads to not caring. In these lines the reader begins to see the downfall of these heroes that are placed on a pedestal. cummings then writes “JESUS” placed on a separate line at the end. This can be interpreted as adding articulation, or an exclamation, of the point similar to saying, “gosh.” cummings ends the poem with the lines, “he was a handsome man…Mister Death.” He refers to Buffalo Bill as a “blueeyed boy,” which peels off the façade of being a great heroine and shows that he is no more than a little boy who got lucky. Choosing to end the poem with, “and what I want to know is how do you like your blueeyed boy Mister Death,” shows these heroines are susceptible to human characteristics, in this form death, of which society does not realize. cummings broadcasts what society believes to be a hero and puts those characteristics to shame. He uses Buffalo Bill to represent all of the heroes we honor. Buffalo Bill was simply a man that killed animals and because he did so was awarded. Cummings is showing the stupidity of our society’s choices on whom we follow and to whom we look up.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Segoe Script'; font-size: 18pt; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Segoe Script'; mso-bidi-font-family: +mn-cs; mso-color-index: 1; mso-fareast-font-family: +mn-ea; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt;">"Private property began the instant somebody had a mind of his own."