Poet Langston Hughes Analytical Essay by Calwriter

This paper analyzes the important issues and themes found in Hughes's poetry, specifically the poems, "Harlem," "Dream Variations," and "The Negro Speaks of Rivers". The three poems create a triad of important factors related to black American society. The author points out that, by using symbolism and imagery in the poems, Langston Hughes expresses his denouncement of racial discrimination, while at the same time achieving consistency in putting the factors of culture, history, and the self amid this major issue. The paper relates that Hughes is one of the icons of the cultural movement of the 20th century known as the Harlem Renaissance because he encouraged fellow black American writers to pursue their goal of achieving an equal status in modern American society and because his poetry became an important catalyst for the intellectual and cultural progress that began during this period.