Harlem Renaissance Poets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 9

Harlem Renaissance Poets - Essay Example They were proactive within political settings as they vied for various posts. Additionally, they sought avenues for civic participation, cultural self determination and economic equality (Huggins 2007). One such writer is Langston Hughes who wrote the poem The Negro Speaks of Rivers. An illustrative art of literature, this poem portrays the significance of four vital rivers in sustaining slavery in America. Particularly, Langston expresses his ideas from the Mississippi river on its expansive role in slavery at that time. This piece of work is famous as it celebrates the voice of the African Americans at such a time when there was rampant injustice, racial discrimination and inequality in America. The poet assisted in uniting and inspiring the black community during times of white oppression. His endless involvement and championing for African American rights earned him the tag of unofficial Harlem Renaissance laureate. Another writer with strong connection to this African American writer’s movement was Claude McKay. This poet had his roots emanating from Jamaica, a Caribbean nation and wrote genres spanning national boundaries and political orientation or preferences. The p oem If We Must Die is a politically charged but challenging piece of work that was written at a time of civil unrest in America (Huggins 2007). In his poem, The Negro Speaks of Rivers, Langston shows elements of double consciousness in a number of ways. This particular poem makes a strong connection to the souls and cultural heritage of the black community in four distinct rivers found in America, Africa, Middle East and Asia. Having such a chronologically significant background, the poet creates a visual journey of the Africans and African Americans by linking it to civilization origin, Africa. In this poem, the writer speaks of a story of enslavement and freedom which the black community suffered indicating their strength and astuteness (Rasche 2007). On the contrary,