Jasper RR2

“Theme for English B” by Langston Hughes is a poem that overall summarizes the discrimination, differences and similarities between African-Americans and white Americans in a mostly white upper-class school. Hughes talks about him living in poverty within Harlem, while attending this upper class, wealthier school. His teacher tells him to go home and write a paper about himself. The instructor says “Go home and write a page tonight. And let that page come out of you- Then, it will be true”. Hughes went back to his living area, which is located above a Harlem YMCA, and writes his paper. He writes how “Sometimes perhaps you don’t want to be a part of me. Nor do I often want to be a part of you”. This is pointing out the differences between him and the professor. He gives us an idea of what his place is in society, being black in a primarily white area. Ending his poem with summing up that he is a human being and has most everything in common with, and is the same as, a white American.