By: Danielle Johnson

Langston Hughes

Basic Info on Hughes

Born in Joplin Missouri in 1902 Attended Columbia University in New York

and Lincoln University in Pennsylvannia First poem was “The Negro Speaks of

Rivers” Fused his poetry with music, specifically jazz

and blues Early work based on black life, later work

based on desegregation and the fight for equality

Died May 1967

“The Negro Speaks of Rivers”

Langston HughesI’ve known rivers:

I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.

I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.

I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.

I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I’ve known rivers:

Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

“You and Your Whole Race”Langston Hughes

You and your whole race.

Look down upon the town in which you live

And be ashamed.

Look down upon white folks   

And upon yourselves   

And be ashamed

That such supine poverty exists there,

That such stupid ignorance breeds children there

Behind such humble shelters of despair—

That you yourselves have not the sense to care

Nor the manhood to stand up and say

I dare you to come one step nearer, evil world,

With your hands of greed seeking to touch my throat, I dare you to come one step nearer me:

                        When you can say that

                        you will be free!

Countee Cullen

Analysis of Hughes

Langston Hughes really captures all angles of the segregation and culture and everything of the black community. He began with just telling the story of his race like in “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”. The poem was all about his ancestors and how far they have come, but at the same time hinting at how far they still have to go. His later works are more about empowerment toward the black race. Like in “You and Your Whole Race he is trying to empower the people to stand up and make a change.

Basic Info on Cullen

Born March 30, 1903 Attended New York University and

Harvard Won many literary awards in the 1920s Didn’t publish much in the 1930s The least known author of the Harlem

Renaissance Some people questioned his sexuality Died January 9, 1946

“A Brown Girl Dead”Countee Cullen

With two white roses on her breasts, White candles at head and feet, Dark Madonna of the grave she rests; Lord Death has found her sweet.

Her mother pawned her wedding ringTo lay her out in white;

She'd be so proud she'd dance and singto see herself tonight.

“The Wise”Countee Cullen

Dead men are wisest, for they knowHow far the roots of flowers go,How long a seed must rot to grow.

Dead men alone bear frost and rainOn throbless heart and heatless brain,And feel no stir of joy or pain.

Dead men alone are satiate;They sleep and dream and have no weight,To curb their rest, of love or hate.

Strange, men should flee their company,Or think me strange who long to beWrapped in their cool immunity

Analysis of Cullen

I think in both poems “A Brown Girl Dead” and “The Wise” Cullen is trying to make a point as to how life for a black person can be bad and that sometimes peace is in death. He is using the people in the poems as an example to what is a daily happening and urging people to change.

References

About Countee Cullen's Life and Career. (n.d.). Welcome to English « Department of English, College of LAS, University of Illinois. Retrieved May 2, 2010, from http://www.english.illinois.edu/MAPS/poets/a_f/cullen/life.htm

Cullen, C. (n.d.). A Brown Girl Dead - Poem by Countee Cullen. Famous Poets and Poems - Read and Enjoy Poetry. Retrieved May 2, 2010, from http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/countee_cullen/poems/2425

Hughes, L. (n.d.). You and your whole race. by Langston Hughes : Poetry Magazine [poem/magazine] : Find Poems and Poets. Discover Poetry.. The Poetry Foundation : Find Poems and Poets. Discover Poetry.. Retrieved May 2, 2010, from http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=182643

launched, h. h. (n.d.). Hughes's Life and Career--by Arnold Rampersad. Welcome to English « Department of English, College of LAS, University of Illinois. Retrieved May 2, 2010, from http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/g_l/hughes/life.htm