Profiles in Harlem Reaissance Poetry
...ng the Harlem residents varied greatly, as the comparison of these two poems shows. “Mother to Son’s” speaker uses common street slang, reflecting a lack of education, though her thoughts remain insightful. Through this character, Hughes reminds his audience that, though not all Blacks were formally educated, they were still valuable as intellectuals. Hughes may also be suggesting that this woman, like many Harlem participants, was actually educated, she simply chose to use a dialect known as “Black English” to express and distinguish herself from Whites. Conversely, in “I Too,” Hughes chose a speaker that proudly displayed his education with simple, yet forceful words like “beautiful,” and “ashamed.” The structure of the lines in “I Too” also reveal an educated speaker, as seen in the powerful repeated words “I, Too.” This phrase uses an uncommonly formal dialect, one that recalls great writers of the past. The Harlem Renaissance was a mixture of people from all backgrounds united in the interest of enlightening the world with their culture. These poems allude to this diversity through their very different speakers. The artists of the Harlem Renaissance bombarded their audiences with passionate messages. Hughes demonstrates a need to be heard in his poems through the use of repetition. In “Mother to Son,” the speaker repeats her most important message, that “Life for [her] ain’t been no crystal stair.” This poem is also home to simpler, yet equally powerful repetitions, such as the word “And.” On two separate occasions, the word “and” appears at the beginning of three consecutive lines. This conveys a sense of endurance, the ability to keep struggling through repeated hardships. This perseverance was a trait that the people of Harlem valued. African Americans led difficult lives, and the subjects of Hughes’ poems were no different. The repetition in “I Too” also reflects the efforts Blacks had to make in order to be heard. The key phrase, “I, too, am/sing America” is repeated at the beginning and at the end of the poem. It seems as if Hughes is not sure if he is being heard, and feels that the repetition is necessary. This was the result of belonging to a race that has been historically ignored. Hughes used symbolism in his poems to enhance his descriptions. To immerse his reader in Harlem, Hughes used everyday objects as his symbols. These objects provide a sense of inclusion by reminding the reader of the physical surroundings the speaker inhabited. The poem “Mother to Son” uses words like “tacks,” “splinters,” and “boards torn up” to symbolize the hardships in the speakers life. These symbols represent events while giving the reader a powerful tactile image. The fact that she is using these objects in her story because of their familiarity conjures up images of women living in poverty. Hughes was aware that this was not an uncommon phenomenon in Harlem. This indirect description of poverty is extended in the phrase, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.” Not only does it convey the idea that her life has been difficult, but it uses a valuable commodity that she doesn’t own to represent the life she’ll never have. The symbols in this poem provide a vivid understanding of the attitude and environment of Harlem. Immersed in an environment where they received ample positive feedback, the artists of the Harlem Renaissance encouraged their peers. Hughes certainly communicates his own messages of encouragement in these poems. In “Mother to Son,” the speaker tells her child that her life has been tough, but that she has survived. Though she’s had to bear many troubles, she has still made several accomplishments, “reachin’ landings” and “turnin’ corners.” Hughes, a successful poet, is encouraging his readers not to give up. He, like the woman in this poem, had had to overcome many obstacles, but triumphed in the end. “I Too” also conveys this message of encouragement, but does so in a different manner. Unlike “Mother to Son,” which demonstrates the experienced attitude of an aged black American, this poem emphasizes the enthusiastic optimism of the youths of Harlem. This enthusiasm is not de...