Langston Hughes Research Paper

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Langston Hughes is particularly known for his descriptive depictions of the struggles that people have faced in America from the 1920s through the 1960s. Hughes went through hard times growing up and was observant of the things that went on around him which probably inspired most of his writing. James Truslow Adams once said “The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement....too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately…show more content…
Hughes believes that “America never was America” (5) because it has never really achieved its full glory. Hughes yearns for America to achieve it’s full potential; however, he continues to express that the idea will stay only but a dream. Hughes suggests that America has had a veil drawn “across the stars” (18). He says this because he believes that America is being held back from being all that it can achieve. Hughes feels that “there has never been equality..nor freedom” (15-16) for him in America though it has claimed to be the “homeland of the free” (16). Hughes expresses his negativity towards America because of the lie it has become. He is disappointed that America hasn’t lived up to what it claims. Hughes blames the people for making America into a lie and a…show more content…
Hughes acknowledges the many dreamers that come to America with the hope of achieving their own American dream but face many challenges. He recognizes the American people’s “sweat and blood...faith and pain” (67) that went into making America. He says this to show that there are still people who care about America and the dreams they have for it. He feels “the steel of freedom does not stain” (71) because he believes that the potential that America has can still be achieved. He emphasises to the people the importance that exists for them to bring back their “mighty dream again” (69) or they will surely fall to “rack and ruin” (80). This really shows the desperate hope and passion that Hughes has too see America achieve its greatness again. Hughes describes how America is being held back from achieving its full potential by its lazy and repugnant people. He has become more hopeful about America and what it can become because he sees that there are still people that believe and are trying to fix

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