Langston Hughes and Bob Dylan

Literature and Composition II

Langston Hughes and Bob Dylan

Langston Hughes and Bob Dylan are two poets from different eras in modern American poetry. Although Bob Dylan is more characterized as a songwriter, I see much of his work as poetry. In this essay, I will discuss Hughes' poem "Harlem [1]" and Dylan's "Times They Are A-Changin"' as commentaries on are culture, but from different backgrounds.

Both poets use social protest to make their points. Langston is talking of times that were not particularly good in any way for African Americans. In the poem "Harlem [1]", he speaks of a time when black people were considered lower than the average American citizen. He remembers how they were not accepted when he was younger; and for him and his race, he feels things haven't changed; and even if they had, how could the past be forgotten or forgiven?

Sure, we remember.

Now when the man at the corner store

Say's sugar's gone up another two cents.

And bread one,

And there's a new tax on cigarettes-

We remember the job we never had,

Never could get,

And can't have now

Because we're colored. (768)

In this verse of the poem he is talking about how African Americans have viewed the world from Harlem and live and unjust life, how can they forget that.

Bob Dylan speaks of social protest throughout his poem. He is proclaiming to the world that we shall all come together and forget the past for a united future. He is saying that everything that has been normal is about to change.

Come gather round people

Wherever you roam

And admit that the waters

Around you have grown

And accept it that soon

You'll be drenched to the bone.

If your time to you

Is worth savin'

Then you better start swimmin'

Or you'll sink like a stone

For the times they are a chagain
'. (711)

A difference in the two poets definitely comes into play when we look at of the speakers in these poems. Hughes' persona is that of a black male