Blog #3

Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes’ Let America Be America Again concentrates on the American dream and how it has changed. Getting the “American dream,” having money, freedom, equality, happiness, etc. is extremely difficult and for many no matter how much they work, still don’t achieve it. When I read Let America be America Again I felt this deep connection to the poem because I myself am a second generation immigrant and never came from a lot of money. My family had moved up from where they were and what they had back in Dominican Republic and I know we are doing much better than others which I am extremely grateful for. However, they never really reached their dreams. My father works like an animal five-six days a week and has been for decades, we live in an apartment paying rent, we have bills and have to watch what we spend our money on. Still, I will always appreciate what I have because there are others with dreams who don’t even have a roof over their heads. I will always acknowledge and be grateful for the sacrifices my parents have made to give me a better life, the thing is, they have sacrificed so much but at what cost to them? Though Hughes is a century older this poem portrays the current state of  America and how many people feel/ go through. Majority of the U.S population is low or working class making only one to three percent of the upper rich class. One to three, so everyone else is living their life working and struggling everyday. Either poor and hungry or just making it. Reading the poem I also appreciated Hughes’ hope and faith that America can return to the way it was where most people can achieve that “American dream,” however it is difficult to view that happening when the rich is what has most of the power and they want to keep themselves rich and want to continue getting richer, drunk off of greed. In essence, I enjoyed the meaning of this poem as I do for most of Langston Hughes’ work.