An Analysis of Langston Hughes Poem "Theme for English B"

posted October 11, 2009 - 3:50pm

An Analysis of Langston Hughes Poem "Theme for English B"

Hello Everyone,

In his poem “Theme for English B,” a response to an assignment given by his class instructor, Langston Hughes writes about the differences between himself and his instructor’s race. He talks about being the only “colored” person in his class and expresses the feeling of being similar to other races, primarily “white”, and yet different throughout the poem. Although he details the commonalities between the two races, Langston manages to write a poem that is representational of his “colored” ethnic background, using his community, Harlem, as a source of inspiration.

The instructor’s assignment in the poem can be interpreted as a challenge to the students to write a paper with feeling and emotion. In the poem, the instructor advises the students to, “Go home and write a page tonight. And let that page come out of you,” The instructor believes that by getting the students to write a paper from the heart, whatever is written “will be true.”

Langston’s paper, in the form of a poem, details what he feels. His feelings come from his school and community, Harlem, and its impact on him. For example, Brent Staples in his essay “Black Men in Public Spaces” narrates about the fear he imposes on mainly white women in public spaces. In his essay, Staples details many of his experiences in which he was the victim of racial profiling. He gives details about women crossing the street and even quickening their steps to avoid his presence. The experiences Langston would have felt being the only “colored” person in his classroom would have been similar to experiences Staples narrates about in his essay. Langston, therefore draws on his experiences from going to school and living in Harlem, a poor community at the time, and expresses it in his poem, “I feel and see and hear Harlem, I hear you: hear you, hear me-we two-you, me, talk on this page.”

Harlem does not only have an effect on Langston but on his “white” professor and classmates as well. They are going to school in the community on a daily bases and share in the same emotions Harlem imposes on Langston. This is a parallel link between the races Langston does not address. He fails to show how the similar effects a poor neighborhood will have on any race. Instead he chooses to illustrate everyday activities almost all races engage in. He states in the poem “I like to eat, sleep, drink,” and “I like to work, read, learn, and understand life.” By using these mundane activities he manages not to single himself out from his classmates or his instructor, but shows the similarities they share. He uses the statement “I guess being colored doesn’t make me not like the same things other folks like who are other races.” to further strengthen his point of being comparable to his “white” counterparts. Using these common links, Langston illustrates how he can be from any race and goes on to tell the instructor in the poem, “You are white-yet a part of me, as I am a part of you. That’s American.” suggesting that by being American you are part of all races...Read more

Langston Hughes "Theme for English B"

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