History In Langston Hughes's "Negro"

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one must take an enhanced inspection at
certain elements that Hughes uses throughout the poem.
In "Negro", Hughes gives the reader a compact visual expos� of the
historical life of blacks. He does not tell the reader in detail about
what has happened to blacks; therefore, Hughes allows these actual accounts
to marinate in the mind of the reader. Instead of saying that he[Hughes]
is a black man living in America, he simply says that "I am a Negro" (1 and
17). He does not create a mysterious aura about blacks, but leaves that up
to the reader. Thinking, on the reader's behalf, plays a major part in
understanding "Negro." The different meanings that this poem has is
entirely left for the reader to discern.
The setting of "Negro" is 1922, the year in which it was written.
A time when blacks were often treated badly because of their race. A
limited account of the history of blacks, Hughes could recite this poem to
a group with any racial makeup at any given location. Someone ...

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