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My People Summary
In "My People," Hughes extols the beauty of his people, likening their faces to the night, their eyes to the stars, and their souls to the sun.
My People Analysis
This poem, like many of the most beloved of Hughes' poems, is an ode to the beauty and dignity of African Americans. The fact that Hughes consistently chooses nature metaphors when extolling black beauty merits comment. Why not choose more complex metaphors, or praise those aspects of African Americans that evinced their intelligence, urbanity and artistic potential? Hughes consistently praises qualities not unique to black Americans: faces, eyes, souls. These, we may reasonably assume, are the province of any people's beauty, and do not speak to the particular character of a people's spirit. But when one considers the nature of racism, Hughes' approach suddenly seems perfectly apt. What was it if...
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This section contains 269 words (approx. 1 page at 400 words per page) |
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