Theme For English B Analysis

The instructor said,



    Go home and write

    a page tonight.

    And let that page come out of you--

    Then, it will be true.



I wonder if it's that simple?

I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem.

I went to school there, then Durham, then here

to this college on the hill above Harlem.

I am the only colored student in my class.

The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem,

through a park, then I cross St. Nicholas,

Eighth Avenue, Seventh, and I come to the Y,

the Harlem Branch Y, where I take the elevator

up to my room, sit down, and write this page:



It's not easy to know what is true for you or me

at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I'm what

I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you:

hear you, hear me--we two--you, me, talk on this page.

(I hear New York, too.) Me--who?

Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love.

I like to work, read, learn, and understand life.

I like a pipe for a Christmas present,

or records--Bessie, bop, or Bach.

I guess being colored doesn't make me not like

the same things other folks like who are other races.

So will my page be colored that I write?



Being me, it will not be white.

But it will be

a part of you, instructor.

You are white--

yet a part of me, as I am a part of you.

That's American.

Sometimes perhaps you don't want to be a part of me.

Nor do I often want to be a part of you.

But we are, that's true!

As I learn from you,

I guess you learn from me--

although you're older--and white--

and somewhat more free.



This is my page for English B.

.: :.

That is perfect that we can get the credit loans moreover, this opens up completely new possibilities.

| Posted on 2012-12-11 | by a guest

.: :.

I think this poem speaks of African American\'s desire for equality. A very simple equality that: we are all human beings with common interests regardless of skin color. Still, we are different and special individuals in our way; and each of us definitely has something to offer to the table: personal experience and knowledge that others can learn from. That\'s why we should be treated equally.

| Posted on 2012-12-10 | by a guest

.: :.

is the speaker followed the teachers instruction? explain.

| Posted on 2012-10-01 | by a guest

.: :.

I am confused about the theme for this poem please help me out and respond to my message

| Posted on 2012-09-30 | by a guest

.: :.

I read this poem for the first time over 20 years ago. I could relate, I was in a university English class with only 2 other blacks. I was 22 as well and learning a lot about myself. This poem opened the door to reality for me. My white professor did not agree with what I thought about the poem. When the writer mapped out his journey to school he was expressing to the teacher that he is exposed to the same things that whites are on the way there. Although our backgrounds are different they make up what America is and if you judge me because of my color you are miis-judging America as well. So will you judge me as a student and how I express myself or will you judge me as a black man. If the later then my grade will reflect what is wrong with America. I had to sit down with my professor because my grade reflected our disagreement with the poem. She changed my grade and her thoughts about this poem after our discussion. Always remember you are always black first and as my grandmother use to say you have to work ten times harder to show that you are just as good or better.

| Posted on 2012-06-20 | by a guest

.: :.

ok so i was asked to do this poem for an assignment i would like to share my knowledge.. This poem\'s theme is one of the in justification of one\'s race where the white\'s may be looked as superior at it had been in the past slavery days however, the persona is objecting to this superiority and claiming a chance, a sense of overcoming

| Posted on 2012-05-08 | by a guest

.: :.

I believe it\'s the best poem ever made to tackle the discrimination issue. However, I don\'t get the first part stating the road that he take to home...

| Posted on 2012-04-21 | by a guest

.: :.

This poem is something we ought to consider....im black too and i don\'t find this insulting.its actually a wee bit amusing- the way Hughes tells everything like it is without sounding insultive or even writing something demeaning. He uses a very interesting technique...I raise my hat to this. I\'m proud to be who I am... Are you?

| Posted on 2012-01-29 | by a guest

.: :.

Actually I liked this poem. It tackles the problematic issue of Blacks and Whites.Unlike lots of people, I don\'t find it insulting at all, on the contrary, the narrator calls for his rights as a human being and as an American to be recognized and equally treated.

| Posted on 2011-12-24 | by a guest

.: :.

the poem deals with a black students attempt to understand his identity.the simple statement let it \"come out of you, then it will be true\" on the part of the instructor reveals his inadequacy in understanding the complexities of black identity.racial memories of the past coupled with their sense of dislocation do not allow them to have the same kind of freedom that the whites can have.in fact in the student narrator hughes shows not just this problemmatic notion of identity but also the disjunction that occurs when the black want to reach new levels of freedom and opportunity.there is a clear break between the lived world of the narrator-Harlem and the university at the top of the hill-columbia university and the narrator as someone traversing both these spaces recognises that he can\'t identify completely with either and at the same time cannot deny either.moreover, his recognition that the negro problem is not just a black problem (it is something that both the whites and the blacks have to deal with)leads him to recognise that the only defference is in their inability to recognise their inherent inseperability.
anjumon sahin

| Posted on 2011-12-09 | by a guest

.: :.

The instructor asked the students to \"let that page come out of\" them, and that\'s what came out of Hughes.

| Posted on 2011-12-02 | by a guest

.: :.

This poem was discussed in my class and i think that the poet is telling us of how America was in the 50\'s. it\'s good and i hope others read to understand what blacks feel where racism still exists.

| Posted on 2011-06-04 | by a guest

.: :.

What most people posting are forgetting, or that they may not know, is that Hughes did not want to mix races. He did not want white influences in African American art, nor did he want African American art in White art. However, at the end of the poem there seems to be a realization to Hughes that perhaps, beyond his control, one does in fact influence the other.
People should read up on Hughes before posting on here.

| Posted on 2011-04-15 | by a guest

.: :.

i love this poem because it talks about a very important issu (races)

| Posted on 2011-04-10 | by a guest

.: :.

I have to do a project for enlglish on this poem so thanks for the information.

| Posted on 2011-02-14 | by a guest

.: :.

This poem really makes alot of sense. it also speaks of how the blacks were treated in that era. This black boy the only 1 in his class feels so out out place because of his environs.. this is pue genius big hughes

| Posted on 2011-02-12 | by a guest

.: :.

Langston Hughes’ poem “Theme for English B” is a powerful three stanza piece which discusses an exceedingly notorious issue. There is minimal complexity in Hughes choice of diction, yet there is influence and cleverness throughout this poem.
Hughes begins to construct a list of things that bring him pleasure, “Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love….” He reasons, that being an African American does not make him that much different from other races. The question occurs to him, “So will my page be colored that I write?” He wonders if his race will make a difference in what he writes, and he wonders whether he will be able to communicate with a white instructor, because he is black. Langston Hughes is discussing equality. An issue—which at the time of this poems publication—was controversial. But Hughes is genius.
Langston Hughes is boldly making a statement, on behalf of the entire black community, that whether white or black—as Hughes so eloquently wrote—we are a part of each other. This bold statement is not genius; it is powerfully, motivating but not genius. What is genius is how Hughes made this audacious statement. He was a classy man and not once throughout this poem is he disrespectful. Hughes brought this controversial issue to the attention of the public not by accusing anyone, not in the form of resentment, but by poising innocent questions.
He poised questions that made the public think, he laid down what he believed to be true, and he left the reader with an opportunity to ponder what had been written—without feeling insulted. He admits that he is aware at times whites do not want to be part of blacks, and also the reverse is true. But regardless of those racial feelings of separation, Hughes believes they are still part of each other.
“Theme for English B” is a beautiful poem, with a powerful message, written by the confident Langston Hughes. This poem is powerful because no matter what the opinions of its readers—whether now or then—it encouraged thought and inspired contemplation.

| Posted on 2010-10-06 | by a guest

.: :.

Moving poetry.Heartfelt emotions of sadness and silver lining is AMERICA. I wonder how muslims feel today?

| Posted on 2010-09-09 | by a guest

.: :.

this poem talks about the american life at a certain period of time and how the white treats the black. we should not judge people according to their colour but according to what they are. he also stresses that all of us are equall.

| Posted on 2010-06-26 | by a guest

.: :.

Im writing an essay for this poem and after fully understanding this poem i came to the realization that i can relate to this poem, because i am a black female that also wonders black people being equal with whites in America.

| Posted on 2010-05-23 | by a guest

.: :.

I think this poem�s meaning is that you are who you are, no matter how you try to change to fit in with those you envy. Sure, you can play the part, but deep down inside you'll still have the same values and opinions YOU grew up with. Trying to assimilate cannot fully succeed, for you will in one way or another remain different. And, furthermore, you will respect your own opinions and values more anyways, even if it's just in the back of your head.

| Posted on 2010-05-20 | by a guest

.: :.

This poem was written at a time when Africans were not considereed to be part of America but simply Africans. This was during the time of Harlem Renaissance( Harlem is a Newyork Neighbourhood which since the 1920's has been a black neighbourhood.Harlem rennaissance was a period when blacks had creative innovative ways of expressing their feelings more so about the racial segregation.
The Poem is about this black boy(the only one in his class) given a duty to right a paper. The paper is suppossed to be out of him for it to be true. So the paper ought to be black, but since blacks and less free. Will the proffessor consider it true?

| Posted on 2010-04-05 | by a guest

.: :.

i like this poem because i understand how the black society struggled in the 1950's

| Posted on 2010-01-21 | by a guest

.: :.

I believe that this poem shows a student in college tryin to show that everyone is equal n simular in all types aways, n that color is just a small factor. We have the same wants, needs, n desires.

| Posted on 2009-11-12 | by a guest

.: :.

i really commend langston hughes for writing this poem with such honesty. He is able to expose the sheer, raw emotion that a black student feels due to his "otherness" from his white classmates. I love this poem and it makes you think about how some "assignments" are really life assignments.

| Posted on 2009-10-04 | by a guest

.: :.

I feel that this poem is not meant to offend in any way...but rather you see a young black man's struggle to assimilate into American culture and still keep his identity of blackness...this is apparent during his daily ascent and descent from Harlem...at the end he comes to the realization that we all have so many more similarities than we care to realize...we all desire the same creature comforts in life and no one is ever really free... quite a liberating poem!!!

| Posted on 2009-08-31 | by a guest

.: :.

i dont understand this poem!!!! can someone help me i need this for a english project

| Posted on 2009-08-29 | by a guest

.: :.

I think this poem illustrates the DISCURSIVE learning exchange between the speaker (presumably Hughes) and his instructor. The poem itself does not strive to depict a hierarchical dialect ie) teacher/student or master/slave, rather a convergence of two separate ideas via art. Timelessly profound and beautiful.

| Posted on 2009-07-17 | by a guest

.: :.

This poem is libratering toward all groups and races of people. It showed that just because were all different colors, we can stil learn from each other and see different views on the same subjects..I love this poem!! Equal freedom for all.

| Posted on 2009-06-07 | by a guest

.: :.

This poem is about a young African American man in an all white class, with a white professor, and the young man is the only one from the south. The assignment is what's at issue. Should he write what he is, which is a black man's point of view, or what he thinks the professor wants? The page that 'comes out' of him must be black because that's what he is, but can the professor understand that?

| Posted on 2009-05-07 | by a guest

.: :.

i dont know why anyone would be offended by this poem. its about a black student rising above expectations and triumphing. at first he assocaites himself as a loner, but as the poem develops, he begins to talk in terms like "we" and "us". it was also written in the civil rights era im pretty sure and so you should take that into account when you read the poe,. langston hughes is trying to help the movement along with this work.

| Posted on 2009-03-29 | by a guest

.: :.

well i think this poem is super super x yeah its good

| Posted on 2009-03-19 | by a guest

.: :.

this poem speaks of originality
of breaking racial backgrounds
of each individual's perception of the truth
of the unity we share in America
of accepting no excuses and striving to proove our selves more capable than we are lured to believe sometimes.
of the follies encompassing the youth and their willingness to know, feel, guided, and told the "truth"
in life.
But this poem wants each individual to find the "truth" for himselve!...the truth lies in x

| Posted on 2009-01-30 | by a guest

.: :.

my name is Darrell Daqwan the third. I am black too. This poem speaks to me in an insulting way. I AM EQUAL NO MATTER YOU SAY POEMS CANT BRING ME DOWN OH I SAY!!!!

| Posted on 2009-01-11 | by a guest

.: :.

i dont understand this poem!!!! can someone help me i need this for a english project

| Posted on 2008-12-15 | by a guest

.: :.

I believe this is a comparison of the whites and blacks. These two groups are repeted three times each showing their equality and he is striving to reach the point where a continual flow of love in information can occur.

| Posted on 2008-04-14 | by a guest

.: :.

Hello.my name is jarrade. im black. and this poem speaks to me. i think it it about black african americas. i like it

| Posted on 2008-02-12 | by a guest