Langston Hughes was an African-American poet, play writer, and novelist, among other things. His themes of racial disparity made him one of the main contributors for the 1920s Harlem Resonance. He spent some of his time listening to jazz, and later incorporated jazz into his poetry. The video at the end of this is of him reciting his poem called "The Weary Blues" where he is accompanied by jazz musicians.
His "Poet to Bigot" might not be the best poem to show what he stood for, but it's close. Skip to the poem now it you don't want me to ruin it for you. Basically, he is talking about how some people, the rich, white America, has excessive time on their hands but don't do anything with it, it is spoiled. But, then there are people who have very little time, and struggle and sweat and come out of it accomplished.
Poet to Bigot
I have do so little
For you,
And you have done so little
For me,
That we have good reason
Never to agree.
I, however, Have such meagre
Power,
Clutching at a
Moment,
While you control
An hour.
But your hour is
A stone.
My moment is
A flower.
"The Weary Blues"
I've read Langston Hughes prior to this and I think the way he says things is beautiful. I always feel so empowered after I read something of his, like he was talking directly to me.
ReplyDeleteI read some of Langston Hughes's poems before. I love his poems. Hughes is big contributor to the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. I find that most of his poems has a African-American theme to it.
ReplyDeleteThe poem is strong in showing how ones ways are set and the other is looking to change what is defined. That his moment will be peaceful compared to what little he has received.
ReplyDeleteI think the message of this poem is very powerful and was true about America at the time the poem was written. I can really feel the power and feelings of the poet just with the title, which I find to be really funny. Poet to Bigot tells the reader who the poem was intended for, a bigot, or a person who usually has prejudices towards a certain ethnic group. I think we can assume that the bigot(s) were white privileged Americans who never had to work for a thing in their life.
ReplyDeleteI knew Langston Hughes prior to reading this but this poem is so representative of him. I feel as though he was a very "I don't care what you think, I'm me" type of person which is so inspiring in a world where so many people nowadays just want to be someone else. This poem tells people to ignore the hatred and ignorance and to embrace your own full potential without letting others hinder you.
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