I am Negro- A poem analysis

Negro by 

Hughes Langston

I am a Negro: 

Black as the night is black,  Black like the depths of my Africa.

I’ve been a slave: 

Caesar told me to keep his door-steps clean.  I brushed the boots of Washington.

I’ve been a worker: 

Under my hand the pyramids arose.  I made mortar for the Woolworth Building.

I’ve been a singer: 

All the way from Africa to Georgia  I carried my sorrow songs.  I made ragtime.

I’ve been a victim: 

The Belgians cut off my hands in the Congo.  They lynch me now in Texas

I am a Negro: 

Black as the night is black,  Black like the depths of my Africa. 

Poetry Analysis

Analyzed by Rudi Brata

Title : Negro

          Hughes Langston

Introduction : 

This poem tells about the history of african american people from the past to the present. The speaker is an african american man who tells the activity and the treatment of the black community in the early 20th century until now. The tone of this poem is proud, sad, disappointed.

Body

Stanza 1:

The speaker begins with telling his identity. He says that he is a Negro. This reflects that the speaker wants to declare about himself and his people community. He describes that the skin color of african american people is black and their origin is from Africa. 

Stanza 2:

The speaker describes the history of african american people who have been a slave since the time of Julius Caesar. And their job was not a noble one, because many of them at that time worked as boots cleaners in Washington DC.

Stanza 3:

In this stanza, the speaker tries to explain the black people achievements through their works. Even though they were slaves, They were proud to be able to build pyramids in Egypt. And they are also proud for their skills and strength to build Woolworth Building.

Stanza 4:

The poem tells about the history of  african american music. It is originated from africa. They created ragtime music which is now becoming Jazz music. The speaker emphasizes that black people have contributed a lot in this music history while at the same time they faced hardships or difficult time in that era. Because the speaker says “All the way from Africa to Georgia I carried my sorrow songs.” 

Stanza 5:

This poem depicts that black people are sometimes unlucky. Because they often become victims in their community. They are treated unfairly. This may be caused by racism. And even this happens since the past until the present.

Stanza 6:

In the last stanza, The speaker rephrases the first stanza. This means that he emphasizes about what has happened to black people history. Even though their hardship is lighter from year to year because of modernization but sometimes they still get unfair treatment in their community until now.

Conclusion:

The speaker of the the poem speaks about the history of african american people from the past to the present. They are proud through their contribution in in a kind of their strong body and their musical ability . On the other hands, they are sometimes sad and disappointed with the treatment in their community because of racism. And this happens until now.