Read the following poem by Langston Hughes poem. You then need to answer three questions.
1.) Did you like the poem? Why or Why not? (It's okay to say no.)
2.) Who is this poem speaking too?
3.) What message is Langston Hughes trying to send to the reader?
The Negro Mother
Children, I come back today
To tell you a story of the long dark way
That I had to climb, that I had to know
In order that the race might live and grow.
Look at my face -- dark as the night --
Yet shining like the sun with love's true light.
I am the dark girl who crossed the red sea
Carrying in my body the seed of the free.
I am the woman who worked in the field
Bringing the cotton and the corn to yield.
I am the one who labored as a slave,
Beaten and mistreated for the work that I gave --
Children sold away from me, I'm husband sold, too.
No safety , no love, no respect was I due.
Three hundred years in the deepest South:
But God put a song and a prayer in my mouth .
God put a dream like steel in my soul.
Now, through my children, I'm reaching the goal.
Now, through my children, young and free,
I realized the blessing deed to me.
I couldn't read then. I couldn't write.
I had nothing, back there in the night.
Sometimes, the valley was filled with tears,
But I kept trudging on through the lonely years.
Sometimes, the road was hot with the sun,
But I had to keep on till my work was done:
I had to keep on! No stopping for me --
I was the seed of the coming Free.
I nourished the dream that nothing could smother
Deep in my breast -- the Negro mother.
I had only hope then , but now through you,
Dark ones of today, my dreams must come true:
All you dark children in the world out there,
Remember my sweat, my pain, my despair.
Remember my years, heavy with sorrow --
And make of those years a torch for tomorrow.
Make of my pass a road to the light
Out of the darkness, the ignorance, the night.
Lift high my banner out of the dust.
Stand like free men supporting my trust.
Believe in the right, let none push you back.
Remember the whip and the slaver's track.
Remember how the strong in struggle and strife
Still bar you the way, and deny you life --
But march ever forward, breaking down bars.
Look ever upward at the sun and the stars.
Oh, my dark children, may my dreams and my prayers
Impel you forever up the great stairs --
For I will be with you till no white brother
Dares keep down the children of the Negro Mother.
Langston Hughes
poem copied from http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-negro-mother/
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ReplyDeleteI liked it because it was very discriptive and inspirational
ReplyDelete- Yes and no. I thought it was a really sad poem, but it is very true. I really like how he (Langston Hughes)wrote it's perspective.
ReplyDelete- To all the African American children.
- The horrors of life as a slave-a mother whom lost her children and husband at that.
1.I did not enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion it is too self explainatory
2.The mothers children.
3.That slavery is wrong and people who believe that will never stop fighting for it.
1)Yes it was very interesting!
ReplyDelete2)African americans
3)remimber all the pain and suffering that african americans went through to get their freedom
I agree with me
ReplyDelete1) I liked the poem because it had feeling it didnt just put a bunch of words together it made you think of their position and waht they were going threw. 2) I think it is speaking to all the slaves out there telling them to look at what they are going through every day. 3) He is saying to look at what they went threw every day.
ReplyDelete1.I like it because it describes how the woman felt.
ReplyDelete2. I think it is a woman who has a journal and writing this because she knows how to write now
3. to show how the negro womans life was and understand how hard life was.
1.yes I liked it
ReplyDelete2.kids
3.slavery is not right
1.Yes I liked it because the description
ReplyDelete2.African Americans
3.That lives for slaves were a horrible lifetime
1.I liked it because it rymed and I thought it sounded important.
ReplyDelete2.Black African American people.
3.To explian how hard life was for African Americans.
I did not like the poem because I felt it was boring. It was speaking to african american chirldren. Slavery was terrible and things are still not fair so people should change that.
ReplyDelete1. Yes i liked it because it came from her heart.She told how she felt in that position.
ReplyDeleteno,she kept repeating stuff but over all i almost started to cry.
2.All the african americans (mostly children)
3.That we have it good and how awful it is to be a slave and be in her position.
1)Yes I liked the poem, I liked how she explained things.
ReplyDelete2)colored chhildren
3)Slavery is a very mean thing and its wrong. She also tells us how life was like for a slave.
1)yes i liked the poem because it was very detailed and told a lot of helpful things
ReplyDelete2)african americcan children
3)it is wrong to have slavery and to remember the hard times that african americans had to get to where they are now
1)I liked it because it was very discriptive and inspirational
ReplyDelete2)African Americans being discriminated against
3)That african americans went through all this and now they are being discriminated against.
1. Yes the poem was awsome it had an effect on me it was very sad and in some parts made me want to cry the poem made the point it was trying to make
ReplyDelete2. all African Americans
3. how hard it was on them back then and how they had to suffer and what all they went through
-I like this poem I agree with fluffy snickers.
ReplyDeleteI like what she said.
-All AFrican American people.
-I think he is trying to tell us slavery is wrong and sad and mean.
I like what skymac9 and jj jr. said
ReplyDelete1.Yes and no It was a great poem but it was confusing
ReplyDelete2.African Americans
3.It was tough for African Americans
1.Yes. This poem is very insoirational.
ReplyDelete2.To the children.
3.That the life of the slaves is horrible.
I also liked this poem because it tells readers that slaves shouldn't have been slaves, becacause their lives were horrible.
1. i liked it. it was very isperational.
ReplyDelete2.african amrican children
3. africans had a bad life. as of her, she lost her kids and husband,and all african amr\erican kids probably had a bad life
- Yes i did like the poem to me it explained how slaves had to live
ReplyDelete-All African American people
-Its describing how slaves had to live and their hardships.
1. YES!! I loved it it was so insporational and describing and you could feel what he was feeling...
ReplyDelete2.All the African Americans who have a bad life..and some who may still have it.
3.HOw hard it was to be a slave...how they felt and you really could feel what he was talking about!
I LOVE THIS POEM?!
~~~
1.kinda-it was sad and meaningful
ReplyDelete2.children of the africian americian culture
3.slavery was hard but people kept on the track to fight for rights & thats why
1)I liked it, but I thought it was also sad. The women is trying to make a point and I like what she says.It has a nice message.
ReplyDelete2)African American children and it could also be speaking to everyone to tell how they felt.
3)What hard times they faced and how they were so mistreated. I think that the writer was trying to get a message to everyone and they thought that writing a poem is the right way to do it.(i think so too!):)
1)Yes, I liked the poem. It was very sad and she was telling the truth from her heart.
ReplyDelete2)Colored Children.
3)The life of a African American who was a slave and how they felt.
i liked the poem because she discibed the way she was treated to us
ReplyDeletei think it was sad because of the way they was treated
I loved the poem why because it is sweet and at some point said.
ReplyDeleteA mother is speaking to kids.
How hard it is to slaver kids
I thought the poem was kind of sad but it was touching.It talked about slavery it was so good.Its talking to negros and slaves.That he might of been a slave and hes telling everyone thatit was wrong.
ReplyDeletei liked this poem because it felt back when there were slaves and how lucky we are not to have slavery any more
ReplyDeletethe afrian american live back then
how slavery was and how hard it was to live in it
i like what fluffy snickers said
ReplyDelete1 yes cause i like talking about slavery
ReplyDelete2 people
3 slavery is rong
I LIKED IT BUT IT ALSO EAS SAD AND I LIKED THE WAY Langston Hughes WROTE THIS POEM IT IS
ReplyDeleteTHIS POEM IS LIKE THE WOMEN IS TELLING PEOPLE HOW SLAVERY WAS.
i gave mike the idea of funk master
ReplyDelete1.) yes because its like a story
ReplyDelete2.)children
3.)that no matter what keep going and the life of a negro mother
1. i thought it was great ,because it has alot of detail.
ReplyDelete2. the mom is speaking to her children.
3.he is telling us what it was like for slaves.
~*no b/c its sad ~* All of us~*That slavery was morrally wrong*~
ReplyDeleteI loved the poem because it was sweet!
ReplyDeleteThe woman was speaking to the chldren.
To tell us what it was like to be a slave(terrible)
1.no i did not like it... because its depressing because the negro mother is separated from her kids,husband her happiness and is sold to work on a cotton farm
ReplyDelete2.it is speaking to all black children and telling them not to give up
3.how aful it was for slaves and how black people hoped for freedom
1) I did like it- I just thought it was sad and I don't like sad things usually.
ReplyDelete2)African American kids
3)That African Americans are out there and life is really hard for them and you should feel sorry them!!!!!!!
1)yes i liked it beause it was discriped
ReplyDelete2)afarcain american cildered
3)bicalful
1i like it becuase it was realy sweet.
ReplyDelete2her cildren and her huspand that she got token away from.
3that it is hard being a slave and gettong people token away from me
1.)yes it was sad but i Bet it waz ture
ReplyDelete2.) the Kids
3.) how Bad it was For her an and you should feel sorry for then!!!!!
1)yes i liked it it was really sweet but it was really sad when she got sepperated from her children that part was really sad but i liked it it was really fun to read it.
ReplyDelete2)to her children
3)it is hard being a slave
i sorta liked it it was trying to tell what african american mother had to go through. i think it trying to speak to all of us.that every one should be treated equal
ReplyDeleteI like the poem. She was talking to african american kids.
ReplyDeleteShe was telling them to remember her struggle as a slave.