The instructor said,
Go home and write
a page tonight.
And let that page come out of you—
Then, it will be true.
I wonder if it's that simple?
I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem.
I went to school there, then Durham, then here
to this college on the hill above Harlem.
I am the only colored student in my class.
The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem,
through a park, then I cross St. Nicholas,
Eighth Avenue, Seventh, and I come to the Y,
the Harlem Branch Y, where I take the elevator
up to my room, sit down, and write this page:
It's not easy to know what is true for you or me
at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I'm what
I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you:
hear you, hear me—we two—you, me, talk on this page.
(I hear New York, too.) Me—who?
Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love.
I like to work, read, learn, and understand life.
I like a pipe for a Christmas present,
or records—Bessie, bop, or Bach.
I guess being colored doesn't make me not like
the same things other folks like who are other races.
So will my page be colored that I write?
Being me, it will not be white.
But it will be
a part of you, instructor.
You are white—
yet a part of me, as I am a part of you.
That's American.
Sometimes perhaps you don't want to be a part of me.
Nor do I often want to be a part of you.
But we are, that's true!
As I learn from you,
I guess you learn from me—
although you're older—and white—
and somewhat more free.
This is my page for English B.
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Comments
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This poem is actually the poem that made me want to start writing and i still hold a special place in my heart for it.
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I know exactly what Mr. Hughes is talking about in this poem. I have experienced it in great detail and much too frequently.
I have read this poem many times, and each time it makes some additional point for me. Sadly, Langston Hughes is often referred to as an "excellent Black poet." Hughes was not an excellent Black poet; he was an excellent poet. Whether he was writing in Black dialect or standard English, the man wrote so well and said so much that was and continues to be true. -
this is a fantastic poem
I had read this in English class, and then we had to write a poem about us. We could've used his style...but that was HIS style. So instead, I turned in this lousy piece of work on how I'm not me yet. Anyways. This poem is what made me start reading him in the first place. I have...so far, loved every poem he had written. Just had to comment on this wonderful piece of work. He had sooo much talent! And this poem is one that shows it.
Leah
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