African Americans have often felt as minorities or outsiders in America. As a result, their literary works capture this notion.
This essay explores the works of Alice Walker’s Everyday Use and Langston Hughes’ The Negro Speaks of Rivers, as they focus on blacks as a traditionally ‘marginalized’ race in the American society, in order to highlight their position as ‘outsiders’ or ‘others’ in the society in such a way that they reach out to create awareness and understanding among black mainstream members.
Hughes uses rivers to highlight the position of blacks in the society. Rivers provide imagery of roots. In this poem, roots show the timelessness and history of blacks. One can observe the familial and historical aspects of blacks, which Hughes attaches to the rivers. Clearly, Hughes addresses the entire black community in the America.
Hughes notes that African American history is deep and ancient, and it will continue to grow, run, and provide new lives. One can understand that the early civilization surrounds African Americans in the society as they struggle for their identity. The poem relates to the history and heritage of African Americans as Hughes compares them to some of the greatest rivers of the world.
Rivers were among the first sources of civilization in the history of man. Hence, Hughes introduces a long journey of the black community and relates it to the civilization of the society. In addition, one can notice tales of struggle, freedom, and fight for identity among African Americans as they use their strengths and wisdom (Hughes 1).
The Negro Speaks of Rivers remains one of the iconic poems of Hughes because it shows and celebrates the triumph and voice of the minority African Americans at the period when racial discrimination, injustice, and social inequalities were rampant in the American society. At this time, the poet attempted to encourage and unite African Americans when the White community did not recognize them.
Arnold Rampersad points out that Hughes brings the black community back to life by using rivers and faith in the race (Rampersad 3). A sense of kinship is prominent in the poem. The muddy rivers represent the black community.
Rivers become the main source of inspiration in which the black race is born again in ‘muddy bosom’. The poet captures how the sun changes mud into gold in order to reflect the endurance of African Americans as minorities in the society. Hughes uses simple language in the poem to encourage African Americans.
Walker writes about heritage and history in her short story, Everyday Use. The two hand-stitched quilts attract attention and become the source of conflict in the family of Mama and her two daughters. Walker also relies on these quilts in order to develop symbolism of heritage.
She demonstrates that different views and events shape people’s lives and beliefs in different ways. In the short story, one can observe conflicts within the family of Mama and her two daughters as they try to assert their identities in a racial society.
Walker tells the story about a family conflict because of difference ideologies about the black heritage and history. She presents the conflict through Maggie, Dee, and their mother. Walker’s characters show differences due to unlike experiences and beliefs in life. Mama has led a simple life based on her cultural heritage of the black community.
This is a fulfilling life for Mama because she believes in a simple life. Hence, Mama disapproves Dee’s materialistic habits, particularly how Dee relates to her culture. Conversely, Maggie is shy and submissive just like Mama, but she still holds her heritage.
Dee expresses a modern way of life, which is out of touch with her black culture and heritage. Dee’s character traits and actions show that she only sees her culture and heritage in terms of artistic appeals.
Walker wrote Everyday Use in the 1970s when African Americans were fighting to find and control their identities. However, a number of African Americans could not match the social, cultural, and political situations that developed. This resulted in confusion among many African Americans in the society.
The author recognizes contributions of African Americans through their arts as a way of protecting their roots and identities. Pieces of artworks linked modern generations to their past. In fact, artworks survived through generations to generations and served as important pieces of heritage.
Dee reflects the fight among many African Americans who wanted to develop their own identities by tracing their original roots in Africa. Nevertheless, such attempts often failed because African roots remained vague to many African Americans.
The African history inspired many blacks to trace their ancestries in order to grasp and reconnect with their roots. Generally, Walker’s short story highlights a section of blacks who did not understand the concept of the black consciousness or its ideals.
Hughes and Walker are African American writers, who wrote their works in different periods, but they all captured the struggle for identity and recognition among the black race in the predominantly white society.
The writers celebrate the rich African American heritage and history in their works in order to inspire and elevate the black race in a racially marginalized society. They serve as voices of the minority black community in the society and use their heritage and history to reflect the black pride (Tracy 142).
Works Cited
Hughes, Langston. The Negro Speaks of Rivers. 1922. Web.
Rampersad, Arnold. The Life of Langston Hughes. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print.
Tracy, Steven. Langston Hughes and the Blues. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2001. Print.
Walker, Alice. “Everyday Use.” Making Literature Matter: An Anthology For Readers and Writers. 2nd ed. Ed. John Schilb and John Clifford. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2003. 382-389. Print.