A Cry For Freedom: a rewrite of the earlier essay "Interpreting Langston Hughes". this one is much beter hopefully. Please post comments

Essay by jasmo77University, Bachelor's November 2002

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A Cry for Freedom

Many writers of past and present have attempted to bring light on the subject of racial bias and hatred. Langston Hughes has been quite successful as a voice for the African American people with many poems such as "Silhouette" and "Democracy" opposing racial violence and aggression. Through his selective yet simple choice of words, Hughes leaves open many interpretations such as a more cautious, pleading term in "Silhouette" but in a much more spirited, demanding manner in "Democracy."

When one looks at the poem "Silhouette" he or she may see a very careful and almost pleading manner as Hughes writes, "Southern gentle lady, do not swoon. They've just hung a black man, in the dark of the moon"(1738). He does not say stop tempting and flirting with the black men but uses the word "swoon" instead to soften his statement. At the time, a black man was not considered equal to that of his white brother and would likely be looked upon with hostility and aggression if he were to start making demands of the white man or woman.

In order to speak with any tone of justice so that maybe people would heed his message one may see Hughes almost asking of favor of the white women of the time. Hughes also notes, "How Dixie protects its white womanhood"(1738) after speaking directly to the white women. Hughes doesn't single out women individually but the whole concept behind what is meant to be a southern woman, which gives the reader ideas to ponder such as the many ideals of women in society. At the end of the poem one may see the same tone as the beginning when Hughes says "Southern gentle lady, be good, be good"(1738). Here Hughes ends "Silhouette" with another phrase asking white...