The focal point of the paper is to analyze and evaluate Langston Hughes’ poem: Let America Be America Again. This poem is a mock celebration of the American dream and a pursue of a better life. This is the prime cause of migration. Migration is a subject that is studied on all levels when dealing with humanity and its idiosyncrasies. After analyzing numerous immigrant and minority texts, a trend takes place where immigrants are more able to overcome the difficulties of adaptation of the narrative more easily, whereas minorities are not. Faith and belief in the American dream can be directly related to the ability to assimilate into the dominant culture as a result an immigrant encompasses a mythic, almost religious, vision of America (Dollard, p. 356). The poet mocks this dream and criticizes the country for being a notion of hope that is fundamentally aligned towards the rich and not for the poor. But hope remains and the poet tries to see a future when the essence of the American dream would be ultimately realized.
The dramatic conflict of the poem remains in the difference between hope and despair. It can be stated that some people realized the American dream in the long run. They traveled large distances and found a place to rest. This was a place of work and prosperity. It is also true that they quickly understood the vibe of the US culture and understood that this was a place, which was more aligned to a salad bowl than a melting pot. They found that they would be able to maintain the details and distinctions of their culture even though it was evident that they would soon blend into the cultural parameters of the new country. However, it should be mentioned that the initial generation mostly remained as outsiders but generations to come would easily assimilate into the mainstream. However, for the larger part, this dream is unrealized and the poet speaks on their behalf. It is not just for the African Americans but people with dreams who came to the US from all over the world (Dollard, p. 355).
Langston Hughes is the speaker of the poem who identifies himself with this community of hopeless hopefuls. He represents a group of people who is “Seeking a home where he himself is free.” (Hughes, p. 78). But the conflict develops when this home is not attained and thus the poet says, “Let it be the dream it used to be”. To him, America is the name of the land that would one day emerge as a home to the poet. He says, “O, let my land be a land where Liberty/ Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,/ But opportunity is real, and life is free,/ Equality is in the air we breathe.” (Hughes, 78) With each wish, it becomes certain that this hope is yet to be realized.
However, the bigger picture is much more complex. In this respect, we can state that the US is more of a salad bowl than a melting pot because members of several communities with a number of creeds, races, languages, and colors operate together with their individual identities intact. However, there are sections that believe that there should only be a single American culture and each individual must indulge in it, this culture is supposed to be mostly English flavored, and multicultural children do find it difficult in the initial stages. The policies that need to be initiated in order to limit intolerance and racism in the USA would be more freedom of religious and racial practices all over the country (Drakes, p. 125).
These policies would empower all the cultures to practice their individual rituals without permission from the authority and should feel free to express themselves regarding their own identity in terms of dress codes and etiquette. It can well be stated that racism of any form is strictly avoidable and thus it becomes more important to celebrate the unification of diversity in the US as it stands for long-termed success as a country. This is evident that when all the diverse races and religions are juxtaposed into the sense of a single nation with having to change their own individual way of life and likes it would only be beneficial for the country itself as each individual would feel responsible for the country.
However, from the poet’s point of view, the bigger picture is translated into an individual thought process and he mainly indicates the darker side of the dream with much pathos. He practically its himself with sarcasm, “I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart,/ I am the Negro bearing slavery’s scars./ I am the red man driven from the land,/ I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek–/ And finding only the same old stupid plan/ Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.” (Hughes, p. 79) the effect of the poet’s words are the almost ultimate revelation of the fact that one is pushed too hard and he is getting angry by the days. His syntax like “And torn from Black Africa’s strand I came” makes him identifiable to most of the sufferers of the American dream.
However, the entire scenario can be seen from the modern context. It can well be stated that the issue of diversity in America is highly accepted and celebrated in the modern era. The evidence is clear and assertive. This is because there are a number of creed, race, language and color operating at the same time in the same fields all at a single time and space. This would not have been possible if the government was not in a true democratic mode, this true nature of democracy yields opportunity for all, and as a result, we can find a huge amount of diversity within the nation (Goddard, p. 78).
From the point of view of bilingual individuals, it could also be ascertained that they have complete access to their native language. For example, it can be stated that that the Spanish influx in the southern regions of the US are comfortable speaking their mother tongue and practice the same at their business. It is true that there are some sections that believe that there should be only English at least in the parameters of business but that intention is yet to be fulfilled. As a result, it can be easily stated that bilingual individuals have no problem with their mother tongue and they are comfortable with it. However, there are some examples of language problems but people quickly work the problem by learning it.
Perhaps the aspect of religious variation that is most relevant to the possibility of Challenges that Multicultural Children Face in the U.S is the degree of religious belief in the household. Where religion is extremely important in the family, the children are raised with particular rules and prohibitions and they will participate in the rituals, prayers, and practices of that belief. Religion is the identity and backbone of the children, which will be their guide on how to lead their lives in the world. The poet feels this pain and writes in favor of freedom and individualism in the context of identity (Goddard, pp. 76-7).
In conclusion, it can be stated that this poem speaks of the American dream that never existed for the lower-class American. It also talks about the freedom and equality that every immigrant hoped for but never achieved. In his poem, Hughes represents not only African Americans, but other minorities as well. Besides criticizing the unfair life in America, the poem conveys a sense of hope that the American Dream is soon to come.
Works Cited
Dollard, John; Zenith and Zero Point of US History (New Haven and London: Yale University Press. 2004).
Drake, S; Evaluation of Historical Movements (Wellington: ABP Ltd. 2006) pp. 153-55.
Goddard, J; Nation Management: Making the Most Out of It (Christchurch: Howard & Price. 2006).
Hughes, Langston. Collected Poems. ‘Let America Be America Again’. (Christchurch: Howard & Price. 1999).