Let America Be America Again Expressed

Short Summary

Langston Hughes is writing a poem of someone who feels that America does not alive up to what information technology should exist. The tone is angry and resentful. He points to the people who've come here with hopes and dreams and they're being permit down. He's also saying that there is an economical disparity between people. In essence, the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer, because there is non equal opportunity.

Let America Exist America Once again Summary

Allow it be the dream it used to exist. Let it be the pioneer on the plain Seeking a home where he himself is free.

America never was America to me.

Let America exist the dream the dreamers. Permit it be that bully strong state of dear. Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme. That any man exist crushed by one above.

It never was America to me.

O, let my land be a land where Liberty Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath, But opportunity is real, and life is free, Equality is in the air we breathe.

There'due south never been equality for me, Nor liberty in this "homeland of the free."

Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark? And who are you that draws your veil across the stars? I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart, i am the black human being bearing slavery's scars.

I am the red human driven from the land, I am the immigrant clutching the promise I seek—And finding just the aforementioned old stupid plan. Of dog eat dog, of mighty vanquish the weak.

I am the young man, full of strength and promise, Tangled in that ancient endless concatenation Of profit, power, gain, of grab the land!

Of take hold of the gold! Of catch the means of satisfying demand! Of work the men! Of accept the pay! Of owning everything for one's own greed!

I am the farmer, bondsman to the soil. I am the worker sold to the machine. I am the black homo, servant to you all. I am the people, apprehensive, hungry, mean— Hungry yet today despite the dream. Beaten all the same today—O, Pioneers!

I am the man who never got ahead, The poorest worker bartered through the years. Yet I'm the ane who dreamt our bones dream In the Old World while still a serf of kings, Who dreamt a dream so strong, so brave, and so truthful, That even yet its mighty daring sings In every brick and rock, in every furrow turned

That'south made America the land it has become. O, I'm the homo who sailed those early sea. In search of what I meant to be my home—

For I'm the one who left dark Ireland'south shore, And Poland'south manifestly, and England'south grassy lea, And torn from Blackness Africa's strand I came To build a "homeland of the free."

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The costless? Who said the free? Not me? Surely not me? The millions on relief today? The millions shot downward when we strike? The millions who have nothing for our pay?

For all the dreams nosotros've dreamed And all the songs nosotros've sung, And all the hopes nosotros've held And all the flags we've hung, The millions who have cipher for our pay— Except the dream that'southward almost expressionless today.

O, permit America exist America once more— The country that never has been yet— And yet must be—the land where every human being is free.

The land that'southward mine—the poor human being'south, Indian's, Negro'southward, ME— Who made America, Whose sweat and blood, whose religion and pain, Whose mitt at the foundry, whose plow in the rain,

Must bring dorsum our mighty dream again. Sure, call me any ugly name you choose— The steel of freedom does not stain. From those who alive like leeches on the people's lives,

We must take back our land once again, America!

O, yes, I say it plain, America never was America to me, And yet I swear this adjuration— America will be! Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster expiry, The abuse and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies.

We, the people, must redeem. The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.

The mountains and the countless plain.

All, all the stretch of these slap-up green states.

Line Past Line

1-5 : The reader is immediately introduced to the fact that the writer does not believe that America is all information technology can be due to the fact that the word "again" is used. He wants America to be "the dream information technology used to exist." Merely the powerful line is #5 which reads "America was never America." This voices what many people experience: that America's ideals of equality, liberty, and freedom don't seem real.

half dozen-10 : In a sense, at that place is a positive tone because there is a promise that America can be a "neat potent land of honey," only and then information technology he uses words and phrases like "kings connive," "tyrant'southward scheme,'' and "crushed." Therefore, he conveys that at that place are people in power who are in control and deprive others of opportunities. Line 10 repeats the idea that America isn't what information technology could be for him. And so, lines #5 and #10 share the same bulletin.

11-14 : Liberty, which is another word for freedom, is important in the dream America holds so preciously. The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of America. It was a welcoming site for people who immigrated here. And then, it is a symbol of America and holds hope of what America represents. Hughes wants an America that is "crowned with no faux patriotic wreathe." And so, he wants a existent, patriotic, true America, with no fake promises.

15-xvi: This is a repeat of the message from lines #5 and #x—hat equality doesn't exist for him.

17-19 : This poses the idea of darkness and something veiled, like idea of freedom for him is night or blocked.

20-25: In this stanza, nosotros learn that this is not just near 1 group of people. Hughes is speaking for many who aren't included in America's reality—poor whites, African Americans, American Indians, and immigrants are all groups who've been left out.

26-32 : The primal message here is one of greed. Money is at the center of what America has go. Hughes feels that "power, gain" and owning holding is the focus. It'south all about coin. He says in line #32 "Of owning everything for one'south own greed!" To him, that'south what America has get.

33-twoscore : To personalize and give a face up to people who aren't a office of the American Dream, he uses the words "I am" over and over. Whether one is a farmer or a worker, he says "I am the people" and says that those in this position are getting mad and hungry, and feel "beaten" on line #38. It's really maxim that some people are working hard, but the dream isn't in that location for them.

41-52: This makes the poem well-nigh the individual. Hughes says "I'm the one…" and "I'chiliad the man…" and "I came" and "I meant " to express the fact that people came here with high hopes and big dreams, whether as immigrants from Ireland, Poland, England—or "torn" from Africa and forced into slavery here. All should take a "homeland of the free."

53: "The gratis!" This says information technology all—the fact that we should all be costless in every manner: legally, socially, economically, to savour America on equal level.

54-63: Hughes is coming back and maxim sarcastically that he wouldn't say at that place is liberty. He is speaking for the "millions" of people who take been struggling, hoping, working, and flight American flags, "who have zilch" except for dreams that are "almost dead." But, the fact that he uses the word almost shows a piffling hope. It reminds united states of america of how happy and meaningful it was for many people when Obama was elected. It gave people the hope that they needed.

64-74: Langston Hughes is maxim that America needs to be what information technology hasn't been yet, a place "where every human is free." He capitalizes the word "me" on line #69, because he badly wants to realize the American dream. Again, we see hope when he says "bring back our mighty dream once more."

75-80: Reclaiming the thought of America is the idea here. It has to be for anybody.

81-85: Hopes resonates hither. Langston Hughes ends this with a sense of hope past saying "And nonetheless I clothing this oath-America will be!" on lines #84-85

86-94: "We the people, must redeem" is powerful. It's a stiff, passionate message that America must exist more than than it is, and that it tin be!

Literary Devices

Stanzas: Stanzas divide the parts of the poem. However, his stanzas vary in length. The variation depends on the message. There is no verbal number of lines to each one.

Rhyme: Hughes uses rhyme to draw attending to the poetic chemical element of his message. Words such as "be" and "gratuitous" in lines two and 4, "dreamed" and "schemed" in lines 6 and 8, and "wreathe" and "breathe" in lines 12 and 14, all demonstrate rhyming.

Repetition: Repetition is used for effect hither with variations of the message that freedom doesn't exist for Hughes. To be specific, line v says "America never was America for me." Line x says "It never was America for me." His refrain hither is the main theme: that he hasn't felt a part of the American dream. That'southward why it's set apart from other lines, for emphasis.

Metaphor: Hughes uses the word machine on line 34 when he says, "I am the worker sold to the machine." The auto is a metaphor for the American system that has let him downward.

Alliteration: The phrase on line #four represents ingemination. It says "dream the dreamers dreamed." Another case is on line #11 with "O, let my country be a land where liberty," and "alive like leeches on the people's lives", on lines #77-78.

Point of View: Told in the first person. Uses the word "I' throughout.

Extended Metaphor: America is used as an extended metaphor considering information technology is a word used throughout the poem with many comparisons of what it should be. It should be a land of the free on line #4, opportunity on line #xiii, equality on line #14, and a homeland on line #52.

Figurative Language/Dialogue: Every bit language that evokes mental images and sensory impressions, lines #17-19 evoke the images of darkness and veils. It says, "Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark? And who are you that draws your veil across the stars?" This question stands out from the poem in that its font is unlike, information technology is spoken as dialogue, and it draws the reader to an image that evokes darkness and something covered, like the dream of America is covered upwardly or night to certain people.

Imagery: Hughes uses imagery throughout the verse form to brand information technology speak to the reader. For instance, he uses "slavery'south scars" on line #21, "the young man, full of strength and hope" on line #26, "grab the gold" on line #29.

Theme: The cardinal theme is that the author feels left out of the American Dream. He too feels that it'south true for other minorities and those who don't have the coin, land, or ability.

Tone: The tone is anger, with a piddling hope at the stop.

Elizabeth on October 17, 2018:

I love this poem because it has hope and I like every stanza.

Leseana on April 17, 2017:

Iv'e ever loved this poem, I cited this verse form is a regions oral communication competition. This poem speaks to my people. Every fourth dimension I read this poem it brings emotion.

Madyson on February 26, 2017:

What does it mean to draw a veil beyond the stars?

BOB on December fourteen, 2016:

Where are the sound devices, and the figurative language located in this poem?

Caleb on February 16, 2016:

Cheers for the assay man. Really appreciate information technology.

Brandon from Houston, Texas on July 23, 2015:

Dainty

BrotherFromAnotherMother on February 18, 2015:

very true

THAT GUY on Jan 27, 2015:

INSPIRING

Mylindaminka on Apr xxx, 2013:

К преимуществам щелочной химической завивки Относятся Прочные локоны (обычно держатся дольше); возможность обработки при комнатной температуре. Щелочную химическую завивку применяют для укладки волос, плохо поддающихся обработке, а также для того, чтобы получить тутой завиток, если прежде у клиента перманент получался слишком слабым.

Futamarka on March 31, 2013:

Плиты геля парик (эпиляционный, похотливый пенопарфюмсмех) применяются для теплодепиляции полов а, так же теплодепиляции полов специального назначения: Хотя часто приходится слышать, что цифры беспристрастны, мне кажется, что это не совсем так. Трудно не согласиться с тем, что цифры сами по себе не имеют эмоциональной окраски. А вот когда они становятся индексами каких-то характеристик, то их нейтральность часто улетучивается. Конечно же, мы реагируем не на цифры, а на то, что за ними стоит и на то, что стимулирует наши размышления и воображение. Здесь приведены данные из исследований, проводившихся в США за последние несколько лет.

PadaOthehal on March 08, 2013:

My partner and i accepted to receive high on living nevertheless recently Nosotros accept accumulated the level of resistance.

Jovi Romeo on August 25, 2012:

Greetings from Nigeria. Your analysis of Langston Hughes' poem is elucidatory and graphic.

romper20 (author) from California on June 22, 2012:

I am glad to aid Kaya, thanks for the comment!

Kaya on May 21, 2012:

I am going to write some kind of a written exam about langston hughes and his poems tomorrow and this really helped me to understand his intentions!

Hopefully this poem is going to exist the main topic :D...

Thanks and greetz from germany.

romper20 (author) from California on Apr 27, 2012:

Thanks for the support i hope you enjoyed and learned something today :D

mohammed on April 26, 2012:

nice, i liked information technology

lonnalove on April 17, 2012:

this was very insightful for me

romper20 (author) from California on April 03, 2012:

Thank you for the comments

Chris Andrews from Norwalk, Ohio on March 24, 2012:

Langston Hughes is one of my favorite poets. A bully interp. cheers for sharing it.

Derrick on February 29, 2012:

Thank you for your assay of this verse form. You gave a very truthful description of the writers idea. I really enjoyed it and all the other comments. Thanks.

romper20 (author) from California on February 29, 2012:

Thanks everyone

JDJ on February 28, 2012:

Very nice

Annie from NewYork on October 23, 2011:

informative.. vote up

romper20 (author) from California on September 17, 2011:

I appreciate the comments and yep the poem really stands for itself.

MALAK on May 21, 2011:

LE AMERICA Exist AMERICA AGAIN IS A Poem THAT SHOWS AMERICAN Social club AS Information technology IS,IT IS REALISTC Delineation OF AMERICAN'S Live

Nebeolisa Okwudili on April 03, 2011:

A cute poem that all literature students should read, information technology contains every bit much exemplarry figurative expressions as y'all desire, refining. I honey it everytime I read it, doling more than meanings anew equally I do.

P. Thorpe Christiansen from Pacific Northwest, Usa on February 06, 2011:

Wonderful, I love the verse of Langston Hughes. Great hub.

romper20 (author) from California on November 13, 2010:

Petra your correct, and thanks for taking the fourth dimension to read it!

Petra Vlah from Los Angeles on October 16, 2010:

I volition take to expect up the poem, simply from your detailed account information technology seems that I would agree with most of the poet'due south views. I have experimented myself the "dream" and more than once I was awakened by the nightmare of hypocrisy.

I can't recollect any other country in history that in only 200 short years has acquired more pain for its ain people and the rest of the globe, while wrapping itself in slogans of commonwealth, justice and greatness'.

romper20 (author) from California on June 11, 2010:

Thanks Erik!

Erik on June 08, 2010:

Great work!

romper20 (author) from California on June 07, 2010:

Thanks and so much Micky, its very truthful...

Romper20

Micky Dee on June 04, 2010:

Equality doesn't be for too many of us. Very nice work! It'southward all true. Give thanks you!

Marker Chen on June 03, 2010:

Very squeamish thanks for sharing :)

I actually enjoyed.

romper20 (author) from California on May 24, 2010:

Very true Valerie, the fact that we are driven to expectations rather than humanity can exist strain-cruel. We can always decide our paths and destinations.

valeriebelew from Metro Atlanta, GA, Usa on May xx, 2010:

I constitute this interesting, and pretty much agree with the bulletin of the poem. We put too much focus on money, and devalue most everything else. We deport as if anyone who is non financially successful is doing something wrong. Mayhap some of us are more interested in other aspects of life than material possessions. The more we judge people past financial means, the more greed will be a trouble, because people will want money in lodge to be respected, besides as for the things it tin can buy. Good write. (: v

romper20 (author) from California on May 17, 2010:

I practise write poesy :) I'll take more hubs coming shortly. Cheers for your appreciate answer, it ways a lot. I'll cheque out a few of your hubs!

RomperHubber

Ben Evans on May xvi, 2010:

Very interesting poem. I liked it and I appreciate your analysis. If you like poesy with a historic perspective, you lot may exist interested in reading the Verse of Jose Rizal. He was a statesman from the Philippines and wrote effectually the belatedly 1800's at a time the Philippines fought against spain for independence.

Do you write any poetry?

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