The Negro Speaks Of Rivers Analysis
Langston Hughes’ “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” is an immensely compelling poem that he wrote when he was around 17 or 18 years old. He was traveling to Mexico City, to spend a year with his estranged father, upon graduating from high school. Hughes’ poem has a very spiritual undertone that conveys his intended message with rhythm and attractiveness.
Anyone who knew Hughes knew of his love for African Americans. He saw the beauty in his own people and they were the muse to a lot of his writings and poetry. His craft encompassed the art and essence of the black community which, in turn, inspired many more brilliant artists throughout the Harlem Renaissance and even until this very present moment.
“The Negro Speaks of Rivers” starts off …show more content…
He starts with one of the oldest and earliest known rivers in the world, the Euphrates River, and gives reference to this when he writes that they were around “when dawns were young.” Early references dates the Euphrates to the beginning of civilization. Hughes’ poem can give Africans the credit for the birth of civilization. He references the Congo River, which is one of the deepest rivers in the world. This could be referral to this deep spiritual connection that black people have that connects them to the Earth. He said that this connection “lulled me to sleep” (Line 6). He writes about the Nile River and then follows up on that with the Mississippi River. Both of these rivers have heavy connections with slavery and the labor injustices and prejudice issues that Africans and African American’s struggled against. All of these rivers have a deep connection to the history and heritage of the African and African American community. These rivers played an important part in different time periods and became a staple in the broad history of black people.
Hughes ends his poem with the repetition of line 4, “My soul has grown deep like the rivers.” I believe he places this line at the end to further emphasize his connection and drags the reader into how he must have felt when writing. As mentioned before, Hughes has a great love for his black community, so his connection to them is what made him the writer and poet he
Anyone who knew Hughes knew of his love for African Americans. He saw the beauty in his own people and they were the muse to a lot of his writings and poetry. His craft encompassed the art and essence of the black community which, in turn, inspired many more brilliant artists throughout the Harlem Renaissance and even until this very present moment.
“The Negro Speaks of Rivers” starts off …show more content…
He starts with one of the oldest and earliest known rivers in the world, the Euphrates River, and gives reference to this when he writes that they were around “when dawns were young.” Early references dates the Euphrates to the beginning of civilization. Hughes’ poem can give Africans the credit for the birth of civilization. He references the Congo River, which is one of the deepest rivers in the world. This could be referral to this deep spiritual connection that black people have that connects them to the Earth. He said that this connection “lulled me to sleep” (Line 6). He writes about the Nile River and then follows up on that with the Mississippi River. Both of these rivers have heavy connections with slavery and the labor injustices and prejudice issues that Africans and African American’s struggled against. All of these rivers have a deep connection to the history and heritage of the African and African American community. These rivers played an important part in different time periods and became a staple in the broad history of black people.
Hughes ends his poem with the repetition of line 4, “My soul has grown deep like the rivers.” I believe he places this line at the end to further emphasize his connection and drags the reader into how he must have felt when writing. As mentioned before, Hughes has a great love for his black community, so his connection to them is what made him the writer and poet he