Cultural Awareness

In "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," the narrator—never referred to by name, and therefore known only as "The Negro"—stands as a representative for all black people throughout history. By offering snapshots from several different periods of time, the narrator is expressing a personal awareness of and connection to his roots. Appreciation of this connection appears to be what allows the narrator's soul to grow deep.

The poem suggests that by remaining in touch with the heritage of one's ancestors, a person can achieve a certain degree of inner peace and wisdom. In the case of the narrator, the heritage is a centuries-long narrative of struggle in which the tide may finally be turning. The poem mentions Abraham Lincoln's trip to New Orleans, which according to legend, was when Lincoln resolved to end slavery. This reading is reinforced by the uplifting image of the muddy Mississippi...