Introduction
The poem “Dream Boogie” by Langston Hughes is a piece reflecting the frustration of African American citizens. The concerns of these people regarding their oppressed position in society could not be expressed openly, and music was one of the means of communicating with the white population. Therefore, the selected work represents the ideals of the Harlem Renaissance and can be used for improving the understanding of the movement.
“Dream Boogie” by Langston Hughes
The connection between the poem and the period under consideration can be established by paying attention to the rhythm and the mood conveyed by it. Thus, the author speaks to the audience using short phrases, and this technique resembles jazz songs written by musicians during the Harlem Renaissance. In this case, “boogie-woogie rumble” is not merely the way to refer to the arts but an attempt to highlight that communication was facilitated by music that everyone could hear (Hughes, n.d.). This circumstance contributes to the possibility to link the African American cultural movement with this piece, while the explicit dialogue contributes to the theme of this event. For instance, Hughes (n.d.) writes that “a dream deferred” corresponds to the beat, which is both happy and sad. This phrase implies discontent of this population group with their lives and the desire to demonstrate their worldviews to other citizens.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the poem “Dream Boogie” by Langston Hughes represents what the Harlem Renaissance stands for by emphasizing the perceptions of struggles by African Americans. It shows that they could not express their needs because communication with white people was complicated, and music was the only way to do so. The symbolic meaning of this work for the movement is also conditional upon its emphasis on the affected individuals’ feelings stemming from the existing disparities.
References
Hughes, L. (n.d.). Dream boogie. Poetry Foundation. Web.