Langston Hughes Let America Be America Again Read by Nikki Giovanni

Short Summary

Langston Hughes is writing a poem of someone who feels that America does not live up to what it should be. The tone is angry and resentful. He points to the people who've come here with hopes and dreams and they're being let down. He's also saying that there is an economic disparity between people. In essence, the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer, because there is not equal opportunity.

Let America Be America Again Summary

Let it be the dream it used to be. Let it be the pioneer on the plain Seeking a home where he himself is free.

America never was America to me.

Let America be the dream the dreamers. Let it be that great strong land of love. Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme. That any man be crushed by one above.

It never was America to me.

O, let my land be a land where Liberty Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath, But opportunity is real, and life is free, Equality is in the air we breathe.

There's never been equality for me, Nor freedom in this "homeland of the free."

Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark? And who are you that draws your veil across the stars? I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart, i am the black man bearing slavery's scars.

I am the red man driven from the land, I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek—And finding only the same old stupid plan. Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.

I am the young man, full of strength and hope, Tangled in that ancient endless chain Of profit, power, gain, of grab the land!

Of grab the gold! Of grab the ways of satisfying need! Of work the men! Of take the pay! Of owning everything for one's own greed!

I am the farmer, bondsman to the soil. I am the worker sold to the machine. I am the black man, servant to you all. I am the people, humble, hungry, mean— Hungry yet today despite the dream. Beaten yet today—O, Pioneers!

I am the man who never got ahead, The poorest worker bartered through the years. Yet I'm the one who dreamt our basic dream In the Old World while still a serf of kings, Who dreamt a dream so strong, so brave, so true, That even yet its mighty daring sings In every brick and stone, in every furrow turned

That's made America the land it has become. O, I'm the man who sailed those early sea. In search of what I meant to be my home—

For I'm the one who left dark Ireland's shore, And Poland's plain, and England's grassy lea, And torn from Black Africa's strand I came To build a "homeland of the free."

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The free? Who said the free? Not me? Surely not me? The millions on relief today? The millions shot down when we strike? The millions who have nothing for our pay?

For all the dreams we've dreamed And all the songs we've sung, And all the hopes we've held And all the flags we've hung, The millions who have nothing for our pay— Except the dream that's almost dead today.

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. Sure, call me any ugly name you choose— The steel of freedom does not stain. From those who live like leeches on the people's lives,

We must take back our land again, America!

O, yes, I say it plain, America never was America to me, And yet I swear this oath— America will be! Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death, The abuse and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies.

We, the people, must redeem. The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.

The mountains and the endless plain.

All, all the stretch of these great green states.

Line By Line

1-5 : The reader is immediately introduced to the fact that the author does not believe that America is all it can be due to the fact that the word "again" is used. He wants America to be "the dream it used to be." But the powerful line is #5 which reads "America was never America." This voices what many people feel: that America's ideals of equality, liberty, and freedom don't seem real.

6-10 : In a sense, there is a positive tone because there is a hope that America can be a "great strong land of love," but then it he uses words and phrases like "kings connive," "tyrant's scheme,'' and "crushed." Therefore, he conveys that there are people in power who are in control and deprive others of opportunities. Line 10 repeats the idea that America isn't what it could be for him. So, lines #5 and #10 share the same message.

11-14 : Liberty, which is another word for freedom, is important in the dream America holds so preciously. The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of America. It was a welcoming site for people who immigrated here. So, it is a symbol of America and holds hope of what America represents. Hughes wants an America that is "crowned with no false patriotic wreathe." So, he wants a real, patriotic, true America, with no false promises.

15-16: This is a repeat of the message from lines #5 and #10—hat equality doesn't exist for him.

17-19 : This poses the idea of darkness and something veiled, like idea of freedom for him is dark or blocked.

20-25: In this stanza, we learn that this is not just about one group of people. Hughes is speaking for many who aren't included in America's reality—poor whites, African Americans, American Indians, and immigrants are all groups who've been left out.

26-32 : The central message here is one of greed. Money is at the center of what America has become. Hughes feels that "power, gain" and owning property is the focus. It's all about money. He says in line #32 "Of owning everything for one's own greed!" To him, that's what America has become.

33-40 : To personalize and give a face to people who aren't a part of the American Dream, he uses the words "I am" over and over. Whether one is a farmer or a worker, he says "I am the people" and says that those in this position are getting mad and hungry, and feel "beaten" on line #38. It's really saying that some people are working hard, but the dream isn't there for them.

41-52: This makes the poem about the individual. Hughes says "I'm the one…" and "I'm the man…" and "I came" and "I meant " to express the fact that people came here with high hopes and big dreams, whether as immigrants from Ireland, Poland, England—or "torn" from Africa and forced into slavery here. All should have a "homeland of the free."

53: "The free!" This says it all—the fact that we should all be free in every way: legally, socially, economically, to enjoy America on equal level.

54-63: Hughes is coming back and saying sarcastically that he wouldn't say there is freedom. He is speaking for the "millions" of people who have been struggling, hoping, working, and flying American flags, "who have nothing" except for dreams that are "almost dead." But, the fact that he uses the word almost shows a little hope. It reminds us of how happy and meaningful it was for many people when Obama was elected. It gave people the hope that they needed.

64-74: Langston Hughes is saying that America needs to be what it hasn't been yet, a place "where every man is free." He capitalizes the word "me" on line #69, because he desperately wants to realize the American dream. Again, we see hope when he says "bring back our mighty dream again."

75-80: Reclaiming the idea of America is the idea here. It has to be for everyone.

81-85: Hopes resonates here. Langston Hughes ends this with a sense of hope by saying "And yet I wear this oath-America will be!" on lines #84-85

86-94: "We the people, must redeem" is powerful. It's a strong, passionate message that America must be more than it is, and that it can be!

Literary Devices

Stanzas: Stanzas separate the parts of the poem. However, his stanzas vary in length. The variation depends on the message. There is no exact number of lines to each one.

Rhyme: Hughes uses rhyme to draw attention to the poetic element of his message. Words such as "be" and "free" in lines 2 and 4, "dreamed" and "schemed" in lines 6 and 8, and "wreathe" and "breathe" in lines 12 and 14, all demonstrate rhyming.

Repetition: Repetition is used for effect here with variations of the message that freedom doesn't exist for Hughes. To be specific, line 5 says "America never was America for me." Line 10 says "It never was America for me." His refrain here is the main theme: that he hasn't felt a part of the American dream. That's why it's set apart from other lines, for emphasis.

Metaphor: Hughes uses the word machine on line 34 when he says, "I am the worker sold to the machine." The machine is a metaphor for the American system that has let him down.

Alliteration: The phrase on line #4 represents alliteration. It says "dream the dreamers dreamed." Another example is on line #11 with "O, let my land be a land where liberty," and "live like leeches on the people's lives", on lines #77-78.

Point of View: Told in the first person. Uses the word "I' throughout.

Extended Metaphor: America is used as an extended metaphor because it is a word used throughout the poem with many comparisons of what it should be. It should be a land of the free on line #4, opportunity on line #13, equality on line #14, and a homeland on line #52.

Figurative Language/Dialogue: As language that evokes mental images and sensory impressions, lines #17-19 evoke the images of darkness and veils. It says, "Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark? And who are you that draws your veil across the stars?" This question stands out from the poem in that its font is different, it is spoken as dialogue, and it draws the reader to an image that evokes darkness and something covered, like the dream of America is covered up or dark to certain people.

Imagery: Hughes uses imagery throughout the poem to make it speak to the reader. For example, he uses "slavery's scars" on line #21, "the young man, full of strength and hope" on line #26, "grab the gold" on line #29.

Theme: The central theme is that the author feels left out of the American Dream. He also feels that it's true for other minorities and those who don't have the money, land, or power.

Tone: The tone is anger, with a little hope at the end.

Elizabeth on October 17, 2018:

I love this poem because it has hope and I like every stanza.

Leseana on April 17, 2017:

Iv'e always loved this poem, I cited this poem is a regions speech competition. This poem speaks to my people. Every time I read this poem it brings emotion.

Madyson on February 26, 2017:

What does it mean to draw a veil across the stars?

BOB on December 14, 2016:

Where are the sound devices, and the figurative language located in this poem?

Caleb on February 16, 2016:

Thanks for the analysis man. Really appreciate it.

Brandon from Houston, Texas on July 23, 2015:

Nice

BrotherFromAnotherMother on February 18, 2015:

very true

THAT GUY on January 27, 2015:

INSPIRING

Mylindaminka on April 30, 2013:

К преимуществам щелочной химической завивки Относятся Прочные локоны (обычно держатся дольше); возможность обработки при комнатной температуре. Щелочную химическую завивку применяют для укладки волос, плохо поддающихся обработке, а также для того, чтобы получить тутой завиток, если прежде у клиента перманент получался слишком слабым.

Futamarka on March 31, 2013:

Плиты геля парик (эпиляционный, похотливый пенопарфюмсмех) применяются для теплодепиляции полов а, так же теплодепиляции полов специального назначения: Хотя часто приходится слышать, что цифры беспристрастны, мне кажется, что это не совсем так. Трудно не согласиться с тем, что цифры сами по себе не имеют эмоциональной окраски. А вот когда они становятся индексами каких-то характеристик, то их нейтральность часто улетучивается. Конечно же, мы реагируем не на цифры, а на то, что за ними стоит и на то, что стимулирует наши размышления и воображение. Здесь приведены данные из исследований, проводившихся в США за последние несколько лет.

PadaOthehal on March 08, 2013:

My partner and i accustomed to receive high on living nevertheless recently We have accumulated the level of resistance.

Jovi Romeo on August 25, 2012:

Greetings from Nigeria. Your analysis of Langston Hughes' poem is elucidatory and graphic.

romper20 (author) from California on June 22, 2012:

I am glad to help Kaya, thanks for the comment!

Kaya on May 21, 2012:

I am going to write some kind of a written examination about langston hughes and his poems tomorrow and this really helped me to understand his intentions!

Hopefully this poem is going to be the main topic :D...

Thanks and greetz from germany.

romper20 (author) from California on April 27, 2012:

Thanks for the support i hope you enjoyed and learned something today :D

mohammed on April 26, 2012:

nice, i liked it

lonnalove on April 17, 2012:

this was very insightful for me

romper20 (author) from California on April 03, 2012:

Thank you for the comments

Chris Andrews from Norwalk, Ohio on March 24, 2012:

Langston Hughes is one of my favorite poets. A great interp. thanks for sharing it.

Derrick on February 29, 2012:

Thank you for your analysis of this poem. You gave a very true description of the writers thought. I really enjoyed it and all the other comments. Thank you.

romper20 (author) from California on February 29, 2012:

Thanks everyone

JDJ on February 28, 2012:

Very nice

Annie from NewYork on October 23, 2011:

informative.. vote up

romper20 (author) from California on September 17, 2011:

I appreciate the comments and yes the poem really stands for itself.

MALAK on May 21, 2011:

LE AMERICA BE AMERICA AGAIN IS A POEM THAT SHOWS AMERICAN SOCIETY AS IT IS,IT IS REALISTC DEPICTION OF AMERICAN'S LIVE

Nebeolisa Okwudili on April 03, 2011:

A beautiful poem that all literature students should read, it contains as much exemplarry figurative expressions as you desire, refining. I love it everytime I read it, doling more meanings anew as I do.

P. Thorpe Christiansen from Pacific Northwest, USA on February 06, 2011:

Wonderful, I love the poetry of Langston Hughes. Great hub.

romper20 (author) from California on November 13, 2010:

Petra your right, and thanks for taking the time to read it!

Petra Vlah from Los Angeles on October 16, 2010:

I will have to look up the poem, but from your detailed account it seems that I would agree with most of the poet's views. I have experimented myself the "dream" and more than once I was awakened by the nightmare of hypocrisy.

I can't remember any other country in history that in only 200 short years has caused more pain for its own people and the rest of the world, while wrapping itself in slogans of democracy, justice and greatness'.

romper20 (author) from California on June 11, 2010:

Thanks Erik!

Erik on June 08, 2010:

Great work!

romper20 (author) from California on June 07, 2010:

Thanks so much Micky, its very true...

Romper20

Micky Dee on June 04, 2010:

Equality doesn't exist for too many of us. Very nice work! It's all true. Thank you!

Mark Chen on June 03, 2010:

Very nice thanks for sharing :)

I really enjoyed.

romper20 (author) from California on May 24, 2010:

Very true Valerie, the fact that we are driven to expectations rather than humanity can be strain-fell. We can always determine our paths and destinations.

valeriebelew from Metro Atlanta, GA, USA on May 20, 2010:

I found this interesting, and pretty much agree with the message of the poem. We put too much focus on money, and devalue most everything else. We behave as if anyone who is not financially successful is doing something wrong. Perhaps some of us are more interested in other aspects of life than material possessions. The more we judge people by financial means, the more greed will be a problem, because people will want money in order to be respected, as well as for the things it can buy. Good write. (: v

romper20 (author) from California on May 17, 2010:

I do write poetry :) I'll have more hubs coming soon. Thanks for your appreciate answer, it means a lot. I'll check out a few of your hubs!

RomperHubber

Ben Evans on May 16, 2010:

Very interesting poem. I liked it and I appreciate your analysis. If you like poetry with a historic perspective, you may be interested in reading the Poetry of Jose Rizal. He was a statesman from the Philippines and wrote around the late 1800's at a time the Philippines fought against spain for independence.

Do you write any poetry?

monngooffe.blogspot.com

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