Bridging Text and Context
p. 54
How is the information above reflected in the poem "As I Grew Older"?
Based on the information above, do you think that the speaker in the poem is really the poet? Could the events in the poem reflect events in the life of the poet? Why or why not?
The information given is about Langston Hughes, the poet of "As I Grew Older". It says that Hughes tried to capture the African Americans' experiences and culture in his writings. He was proud of his African heritage and believed that through art, such as literature and music, he can challenge racial stereotypes and work for equal civil rights for African Americans in the US.
In the poem "As I Grew Older", the speaker describes a childhood dream which is being kept away from him by a dark wall. After struggles, the speaker tries to break through the wall with his dark hands, and smash it "into a thousand lights of sun". The wall is probably a metaphor for the racism in the United States of the 20's, which was created by the Segregation Laws that discriminated African Americans and prevented them from getting equal rights.
Hughes was a member of an artistic movement called the "Harlem Renaissance", that had the same goals as he had in his writing. They wanted to introduce their culture to the white people, and therefore, overcome the ignorance that led people to fear them and ban them from the society. Considering this, it makes sense that the poem "As I Grew Older" is about Hughes himself, who had to fight for his freedom through his poems.
In conclusion, the poem "As I Grew Older" reflects the reality of the African Americans in the 20's, that overshadowed their lives and depressed them. Moreover, Hughes' life story and ideals makes me think that he wrote this poem about his own experiences in life and about his determination to fight for his beliefs instead of being a victim.
Excellent!
(100)
Daphna
