There are several African American poets I really like, but one that
stands out the most out is Langston Hughes (1902-1967). Hughes poetry describes
the modern alienated self. The alienated self stands alone in this world. Often
times the alienated self can be seen as a “misfit” living in a society that is
not meant for him or her. The misfit image is probably a stretch for Hughes
intent in his poetry.
The poetry of Langston Hughes inspired young African American men
during the 1960s. The 1960s was a period when Margaret Sanger actively sought
financial assistance with marketing the birth control pill. The hippie movement
had begun along with women’s rights feminist groups. The 1960s needed a strong
independent voice, and Langston Hughes met this need. Hughes expression through
poetry created inspiration for those young African American male successors in the
New Negro Movement.
“The Negro Speaks of Rivers” is not really about rivers. Even though
this poem includes rivers in the title and poem, a reader must evaluate the
hardships Hughes faced during his life along with his ancestors. This poem is really
about the slavery in the Hughes bloodline. The cruel wrath of slavery is in the
soul of the poet. There is no escape from slavery. Slavery surrounds Hughes the
way temptation surrounds me if I choose to go in the candy section of Wal Mart.
There is no bubble at the bottom of a balloon that be popped so slavery can be
burst and destroyed. Slavery has alienated this poet’s family from society.
The alienated man living in America is not to be taken lightly. The
black pigments of Hughes skin separated him from the freedoms and civil liberties
of the new world. This was not fair or right but this really took place. Family members were lynched by Ku Klux Klan members. Masters beat slaves in Langston's ancestor lines. Mass destruction of rust built up heavily along the muddy rivers. There was no escaping the high tides of water drowning purest visions of America. Death and dreams were buried deep in rivers. This is the hardest part of Langston's manhood. How can he explain this to his own children without breaking down in tears other than through expressive poetry? Langston's strong character is seen in his poetry.
There is
an optimistic light at the end of “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” Even though the rivers
of slavery have seen the worst side of this country, perhaps there is still
some hope for the concept of the freedom train. Even though the days were
filled with bone dry deserts of hot Arizona climates, at the end of night lay a
sunset in the sky. This direction of hope provided inspiration to the alienated
self. Who is allowed to ride on the freedom train? What price must one pay? Is freedom really free? Would strong independent women like Harriet Jacobs, Catherine Beecher, Frederick Douglass, and several others be on board?
Haven’t we each felt alienated the way Langston Hughes describes? I
have several times. Referring back to the week blood clots hit me in July of
2010, I had wept with Maya Angelou’s words. I read an autobiography she had
written. This woman had a small son who passed away in later years. To earn
money, Angelou had to have her son stay with relatives. Angelou became active
in the Harlem Writers Group. Angelou moved around so much that she beat my
record during my twenties!
I am able to see that Maya Angelou felt alienated. I read her story, “A
Job on the Streetcars” during Women’s Literature over the summer semester
before I received my Associates degree. This bright young African American
female’s literature still amazed me. I was still learning about the hardships
Angelou faced living in our nation. Angelou stood in solitude, or alienated, in
her attempt to work on the streetcar. During her time, African American
citizens were forbidden to work on the streetcars. This job was something
Angelou really wanted to do. She did face racism and rejection from a
color-blinded receptionist. Still, Angelou’s literary voice shone through the
muggy, grim wings of a destructive society.
Anybody in today’s world who has faced discrimination, racism,
oppression, and alienation can easily identify with the deep poetry of Langston
Hughes and the writings of Maya Angelou. There are days when I share Hughes’s
optimistic approach to this world. There are also days when I am unable to
identify with the romantic concept of the freedom train. I would love to flip a
radioactive switch and wander into Edith Wharton’s fantasy world “The Valley of
Childish Things.” In this valley, nothing stressful would exist. No blood clots,
cancer, disability, race, discrimination, oppression, poverty, etc. would
destroy good hearts, lives, and spirits. This rosy, peachy romantic world is
one the great writers have dreamed of for our modern world.
I conclude my writing with the following questions and thoughts: Is this type of world realistic? Should we
burst this fantasy bubble and come out from under the optimistic ceiling lights
to face the music? Should we be content with the security blanket of
alienation? Do we know anything different than alienation in our modern world?
Should
we not refer to Ecclesiastes in which there is a time for everything? Perhaps this
means there is a time to dream in a fantasy world of “The Valley of Childish
Things” in order to meet the great expectations English writer Virginia Woolf
wanted from her young friends. This also the Peter Pan approach to the world. When
we see the world with our aging eyes, we forget so much. We need to dream at
night in romantic ways. We need to have a balance of romanticism and realism in
our lives and world.
Web Links
The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15722
Freedom Train by Langston Hughes
http://home.arcor.de/starluver/manics/tme/freedomtrain.htm
Maya Angelou becomes first black streetcar conductor
http://timelines.com/1942/maya-angelou-becomes-first-black-female-streetcar-conductor
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VONNufX_qM
The Valley of Childish Things by Edith Wharton
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=WhaVall.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=all
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