Langston Hughes was an African American poet of mixed ancestry, and one of the most celebrated writers of his time. He also had written several novels, plays, and short stories, but is best known for his contribution to the genre of poetry. Through his works, he had always tried to uphold the value of Black people and he vehemently fought against the social evils of racism and discrimination.
The poem, Ku Klux describes an episode where some members of the Ku Klux Klan, an organization that stands for the cause of White supremacy, catch a Black man and manhandle him. Through this poem, the author portrays the themes of White supremacy, racial discrimination, and the chaos that existed in American society. Hughes further shows how the Whites mistreat the Black for establishing their racial superiority.
The most significant theme that Hughes used in this poem is the thirst of the Whites for racial supremacy. The author makes no pretensions about it and comes straight to the point when the Klan members ask,” Do you believe in the great White race?” (Hughes) Incidentally, one needs to remember that the Ku Klux Klan, which has its origin in the Southern states, subsequently spread into the whole nation, is a group of extreme activists who advocates White supremacy. They had no hesitation or remorse in inflicting large-scale violence on the Black people. The savage nature of the gang becomes evident in the manner in which the White men treat the Black man. They unleash this violence to establish their racial superiority by making the Negro admit that he believes “in the great White race.”(Hughes)
Another important theme that emerges from the poem is the evils of racism and discrimination that prevailed in American society during that time. Black people, in general, were mistreated and the Whites did not even consider them as humans. They did not have any rights even to voice their problems. The feeling of helplessness and despair in the Black man who clearly understands that he can do nothing to save his honor becomes most evident when he says,” Mister, to tell you the truth, I’d believe anything if you’d just turn me loose.” (Hughes). The fact that the man doesn’t resist, but offers to believe in anything they want, in itself is proof of the pathetic plight of the Black people.
One more important theme that emerges from the poem, ”Ku Klux” is the violence and chaos that was rampant in American society. Though there existed several laws and other regulations for the protection of the Black people, the Klan members often flouted these and they got away with it because the authorities also wanted to close their eyes due to their bias and prejudices towards the Black people. As it becomes obvious from the poem, the gang members pick on one man, inflict violence on him, but no one comes to question this.
From the author’s silence about why no one intervenes, it transpires that the authorities allowed violence when it is directed towards the Blacks, thereby making the readers feel the full impact of the social injustice of discrimination.
Thus, like most of his other works, the poem Ku Klux also is a staunch protest against the White supremacy, racial discrimination, and violence that prevailed in American society. By depicting the mistreatment meted out by the Whites on the Black, the author successfully illustrates the impact such evils can have on a civilized society like America, where these kinds of menace create chaos, wreaking havoc on the peaceful coexistence of humans.