Assignment:
The Harlem Renaissance changed the face of American culture. Langston Hughes was one of the most famous writers to come out of the Harlem Renaissance. We have read two of Hughes' poems that relate to one of his most common themes: the American Dream. Although Hughes expressed hope for its fruition, he also realized the reality of the time: that freedom, justice, equality and fairness didn't exist for all of the types of people in the United States.
From some of his lines:
O, let America be America again-
The land that never has been yet-
And yet must be-the land where every man is free.
The land that's mine-the poor man's, Indian's, Negro's, ME-
Who made America, Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain,
Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain,
Must bring back our mighty dream again.
- from Let America Be America Again (1938)
As you know in this poem, Hughes is reflecting upon the principles America was founded upon-as stated in documents such as the Declaration of Independence-while pointing out the principles are more working theory than fact.
Hughes writes about the plight of more than African Americans. In his writings, he references many different disenfranchised Americans including immigrants, Indians, and poor whites and all the others who "share the dream that has not been."
Prompt: (question to be answered in short essay)
In what ways are the themes expressed by Hughes (and others) regarding the American Dream still relevant today? Use specific examples to support your opinions. Need Assignment Help?
Requirements:
- Write an original journal entry that answers the prompt in no less than 200 words. (Max 500)
- Make sure you have a clearly stated thesis and that your posting defends this thesis. Use relevant examples, contemporary, from reliable and verifiable sources, all in full MLA format.
- You also need to include at least two references to research to support your opinions, all in full MLA format
- Cite the source at the end of the posting, MLA