Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen

If a reader were tasked as I am with the choice of two poets from similar backgrounds, eras in time, schools of thought and lastly being a part of the same ideals, I believe the reader should choose the works of poets Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen. We must bear in mind that African American poets during that time had to endure what may considered as a burden. I say this because outside of the usual stresses and freedoms of their poetic talent, those poets who were privileged enough to be permitted to compose poetry in the least and thrive in it, their works had to accomplish dual responsibilities.

If purely grappling with words and the ambiguities of just life were not enough, African American poets like Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen had to incorporate more efforts into their work to address the topic of race itself and decide whether to decline or embrace that reality. For many people the acceptance was not there for African Americans to be authors, artistes, or even intellects.

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During a time of racial uprising against African Americans all over the United States, Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen were able to help unite readers and writers alike of all races to come to understand the strenuous times of African-Americans living within the United States. Hughes and Cullen both shared fundamentally identical themes. However, these two poets like many within the Harlem Renaissance shared many ideals and aspirations they still were highly individual. (1037). Countee Cullen’s focus I believe was more on the heritage of being African American and he often used that and religion to incorporate in his work.

While Langston Hughes was keen of speaking about the all-around treatment of African Americans.

In Langston Hughes’ “I Too”, he speaks to the African-American experience, as being the 'darker brother', who is forced eat in the kitchen when company comes. The character challenges those that oppose his acceptance and inclusion by being assertive and not waiting to be invited to the table, you sense that notion in line 8 of the poem when he says “Tomorrow, I’ll sit at the table. When company comes nobody’ll dare say to me, “Eat in the kitchen,” (1045). However, in the last few lines of the poem, the character looks beyond this time of segregation to a time where he may be welcomed and invited to the dinner table. Hughes sees a period when the individuals who have oppressed African Americans will finally accept how beautiful they are and will be “ashamed” of their previous reluctance for that acceptance.

In Cullen’s, “Yet do I Marvel” in the final lines of the poem the speaker says 'Yet I marvel at this curious thing/ to make a poet black and bid him sing.' (pg.1041) the speaker marvels at why he thought God would be as merciless as to make him a black poet in the 1920's when racial prejudice was so rampant. We could also say the speaker marvels about how God gifted him, the skill, talent and ability to become a poet and privilege to convey his thoughts and feelings through words to begin with.

Countee Cullen’s “Yet Do I Marvel” and Langston Hughes’ “I Too” are practically identical poems in that their comparative themes are expressive of their own tribulations of racial inequality. However, we compare the two poems, it will give us the appearance of the stark reality of the many injustices of racism throughout the 1920’s and even today. Both poems gave readers reference and reflected upon a point time were racial inequality was very conspicuous. Hughes and Cullen both authored works that essentially defined who they were, which were proud African Americans, who embraced their heritage and wanted to be a part of the uplifting it. Yes, they used different methods, but they used that ideal as their theme. Their works helped African-American people realize the many unjust acts that most encountered daily at many different levels.

To conclude, it can be implied from reading both poems, that just because they are African Americans, does not make them any different than anyone else and therefore should not be discriminated against because of their skin color. Both poems represent what seems as a common battle of racial identity. Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen both used extremely similar themes in their poetry, the fundamental one obviously being to push toward racial equality and a much more serene society. Both men shared the principle theme of voicing their concerns about racial inequality. As a collective, these two poets used their work to illustrate the hardships of African Americans within an unjust society.

“A world I dream where black or white, whatever race you be. Will share the bounties of the earth and every man is free.” – Langston Hughes

“Not for myself I make this prayer, but for this race of mine that stretches forth from shadowed places Dark hands for bread and wine. – Countee Cullen