Poems “Heritage” and “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” were written approximately at the same time, in the 1920s (Mane 9). The authors speak about being Black; however, their approach to Black culture differs. The main points of contrast appear in the poets’ use of time, the narrator’s identity, and religion. However, they are also similar in discussing the history of Black people and the spiritual connection the poets feel or struggle to establish with their culture.
The first point of contrast is the authors’ use of time in painting the imagery. Cullen takes one point in time – the poem appears to be set in the poet’s present – and focuses on its separation from the previous history of Africa. He asks, “what is Africa to me” as if trying to collect all ideas about the continent and culture connected to it (Cullen). At the same time, Hughe does not focus on any particular period. Instead, the poet purposefully takes moments from ancient history and the 19th century to demonstrate how deeply Black culture is ingrained into the world’s existence.
It is also notable that both poems are written in the first person, but the narrators differ significantly. Cullen’s poem is told by a single person, who struggles to paint a picture of Africa as he is “One three centuries removed / From the scenes his fathers loved.” The narration follows the feelings of one individual who fantasizes about Africa and then moves on admitting that the link between him and his ancestors may be broken. On the other hand, Hughe’s narrator is not a person but a cumulative representation of Black people throughout history. The “I” in this poem has lived in many countries and has seen most of the civilizations being built.
Finally, the last point of difference between the two poems is the portrayal of religion. Cullen expresses his beliefs in lines, “I belong to Jesus Christ … Heathen gods are naught to me.” Hughe does not mention faith directly, but his description of rivers shows a more spiritual approach. For instance, rivers are treated as live beings – “[Congo] lulled me to sleep,” “I heard the singing of the Mississippi” (Hughes). Nevertheless, both poems seem to want to connect with spirituality on a deeper level.
Works Cited
Cullen, Countee. “Heritage.” Academy of American Poets.
Hughes, Langston. “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” Poetry Foundation, Web.
Mane, Prabhanjan. “Langston Hughes’ ‘The Negro Speaks of Rivers’: A Tribute to African Heritage.” Literary Endeavour, vol. 9, no. 3, 2018, pp. 9-13.