18 pages • 36 minutes read
The Negro Speaks of Rivers
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Further Reading & Resources
Related Poems
“The White Man’s Burden” by Rudyard Kipling (1899)
This poem was written about the Philippine-American War, and it promotes a colonial message of empire by urging Americans to engage in the annexation of The Philippines. The poem argues that white people are morally obligated to spread “civilization,” and that colonialism is the only way to spread progress to non-white lands. Though it will come at a steep cost to the colonizers, the poem’s speaker believes colonialism will ultimately benefit the world. This poem has a long history of being used to justify colonialism and white supremacy, and even upon publication, there was tremendous resistance to its message. “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” rejects Kipling’s message.
“Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes (1922)
This short poem embodies the same themes as “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” The speaker is a mother who tells her son about the struggle of her life and the necessity of being strong and persevering. This poem demonstrates Hughes’s use of African American Vernacular English (AAVE), which is an English dialect created by African Americans and developed over the course of 400 years. The diction would have been striking to contemporary audiences, as most poetry did not use such dialects. Hughes, however, shows the beauty and strength of AAVE as he uses it to build authenticity and realism into this poem about experience and hardship.
“Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes (1935)
This poem stylistically contrasts with “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” and “Mother to Son,” with a formal rhyme scheme, more consideration of meter, and a more structured form. The poem is a song about the experiences of people in America, and it focuses on the experiences of the oppressed, including Black people, immigrants, and Native Americans. Hughes juxtaposes the promises of America and the reality of America, especially exploring how that discrepancy impacts him as a Black man. Despite the poem’s differences from “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” this poem includes similar reflections on time, experience, and perseverance.
Further Literary Resources
“The Poems (We Think) We Know: ‘The Negro Speaks of Rivers’ By Langston Hughes” by Alexandra Socarides (2013)
This expansive article analyzes the poem from a number of different perspectives. First, Socarides tracks the literal journey Hughes took when he wrote the poem. She connects this journey to Hughes’s impending meeting with his father and the anxiety Hughes felt about it. Socarides then discusses some of the poem’s imagery, focusing on the rivers and their connection with slavery, boundaries, movement, and empire. She talks about why Hughes chose the rivers he did, and discusses his characterization of the Mississippi as “singing” (Line 7), arguing that it is a reference to the slaves who had been transported along the river. The article then discusses how Hughes’s book The Weary Blues contributed to poetry and to the progression of African American voices in American literature.
“On ‘The Negro Speaks of Rivers’” by Modern American Poetry (n.d.)
This compilation of academic readings of the poem, spanning from 1973-2001, offers a comprehensive view of how scholars have analyzed the poem over the years. The focus of these analyses ranges from Hughes’s influences to his work’s historical implications to the poem’s standing within the Harlem Renaissance. Each excerpt includes a citation to the full book or article, providing a quick bibliography of academic sources for further research.
“Harlem Renaissance” by HISTORY Editors (n.d.)
This HISTORY entry provides an introductory overview of the Harlem Renaissance. Within the article, there are hyperlinks to articles about the people, places, works, and ideas that come from the movement. The article is a good starting point for understanding Hughes’s cultural moment.
Listen to Poem
This is a recording of Hughes reading his poem and explaining a little bit about its inspiration.
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By Langston Hughes
