Billy Budd

Billy Budd

Matt Foster
March 2, 2010
English 1102
Fowler
“Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes
In Langston Hughes’ “Let America Be America Again” he debates the difference between America in the past, America now, and the dream of the future America. He expresses his view of society, which is the struggle against injustice and some inspiration for the black community in America and the society he is striving for. He is striving for a society of equality. Hughes is passionate in defining America. This poem shows a lot of determination that one day America will get past the struggle and conflict and be one nation together through perseverance.
This poem goes back and forth describing America and the people of America. It describes the lifestyle of the blacks in America and the hope they still have in their country. Hughes illustrates a contrasting poem, speaking of the American dream that never existed for a lower class American or minority. He also talks about the equality and freedom that everyone hoped for but never achieved. Hughes states repetitively, “I am…..” whether a black man, a white man, poor, or rich. He does this to contrast that equality in America was not during his time, but he cannot wait for the day that true equality will finally exist. Hughes says, “We, the people, must redeem/ our land, the mines, the plants, the rivers,/ the mountains and the endless plain/ All, all the stretch of these great green states/ And make America again!” (Hughes 77-81). He really hopes for the day America finally breaks through and fulfills the dream. America should not be a land with racism and sexism; it should be one united nation forming the greatest country in the world. Unity is extremely important in fulfilling Hughes’ dream, because without unity America could never be strong and successful. Hughes wrote this poem in 1936, long after black slaves had been freed. Why were blacks still deprived of equality and justice in the United States?...