Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.
(America never was America to me.)
Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed—
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.
(It never was America to me.)
O, let my land be a land where Liberty
Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,
But opportunity is real, and life is free,
Equality is in the air we breathe.
(There's never been equality for me,
Nor freedom in this "homeland of the free.")
Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark?
And who are you that draws your veil across the stars?
I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart,
I am the Negro bearing slavery's scars.
I am the red man driven from the land,
I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek—
And finding only the same old stupid plan
Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.
I am the young man, full of strength and hope,
Tangled in that ancient endless chain
Of profit, power, gain, of grab the land!
Of grab the gold! Of grab the ways of satisfying need!
Of work the men! Of take the pay!
Of owning everything for one's own greed!
I am the farmer, bondsman to the soil.
I am the worker sold to the machine.
I am the Negro, servant to you all.
I am the people, humble, hungry, mean—
Hungry yet today despite the dream.
Beaten yet today—O, Pioneers!
I am the man who never got ahead,
The poorest worker bartered through the years.
Yet I'm the one who dreamt our basic dream
In the Old World while still a serf of kings,
Who dreamt a dream so strong, so brave, so true,
That even yet its mighty daring sings
In every brick and stone, in every furrow turned
That's made America the land it has become.
O, I'm the man who sailed those early seas
In search of what I meant to be my home—
For I'm the one who left dark Ireland's shore,
And Poland's plain, and England's grassy lea,
And torn from Black Africa's strand I came
To build a "homeland of the free."
The free?
Who said the free? Not me?
Surely not me? The millions on relief today?
The millions shot down when we strike?
The millions who have nothing for our pay?
For all the dreams we've dreamed
And all the songs we've sung
And all the hopes we've held
And all the flags we've hung,
The millions who have nothing for our pay—
Except the dream that's almost dead today.
O, let America be America again—
The land that never has been yet—
And yet must be—the land where every man is free.
The land that's mine—the poor man's, Indian's, Negro's, ME—
Who made America,
Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain,
Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain,
Must bring back our mighty dream again.
Sure, call me any ugly name you choose—
The steel of freedom does not stain.
From those who live like leeches on the people's lives,
We must take back our land again,
America!
O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath—
America will be!
Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death,
The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies,
We, the people, must redeem
The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.
The mountains and the endless plain—
All, all the stretch of these great green states—
And make America again!
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Comments
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another winner
This work reminds me of Carl Sandburg's Chicago - only a reminder. Langston Hughes was definitly ahead of his time - just read the last seven lines and see how they are just as vibrant today as when he wrote them. -
In reference to the people pointing out that Langston Hughes was a communist....thats the point. This poem is sarcastic and points out the flaws that "America the Free" has. His words are honest. Even a communist has opinions and is going to express them. I think this poem should be read and understood as an opinion not a broad belief held by all communists. This poem should be looked at as a piece of art and hard work a man put his time and effort into. Dont get too wrapped up in the politics of things.
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Taking into account that Hughes was an openly active COMMUNIST, I have no appreciation for this poem at all. Knowing he is communist and athiest, what kind of America do you actually believe Hughes is hoping for? A COMMUNIST AMERICA, remember the communist claim EVERYONE IS EQUAL - never worked. America seems to be working just fine, sure their are things we wouldl ike to forget and there are areas we arent right on, but we have the best country in the world - would you actually want some other country to be on top? (google John Kerry and this poem also)
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Just because he was a communist doesn't mean you should have no respect for him or his writing. Regardless of what his political beliefs were, he was an incredibly prolific writer.
This poem points out the flaws and ironies of America as it is called a "free" country. He's basically saying "Free?" Look at the black people, the red people, the yellow people, the poor, the handicapped, etc." He's pointing out that America is far from being what it claims to be. He's not suggesting ways to fix it. He's not even talking about communism at all. The poem has NOTHING at all to do with communism.
And as for America "working just fine" I think you're not looking at this poem in context. It was not written in modern times.
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You know Langston was a Marxist? I love this poem because its both patriotic and revolutionary. It's clear that he loved this country so much that he wanted to make it even better.
He wanted equality and socialism. He was a partisan of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, and invisioned something similar, but entirly American in character, for this country.
What a beutiful man! What an American hero!
(Feel the same way as Langston? Check out the Communist Party USA: www.cpusa.org ) -
Another emotional piece by Langston Hughes. I believe this one needs to be graffitied on the front of every supermarket and governmental throng!! Not really, because I don't belive in graffiti, but I belive that this one should be read by everyone, it just might give everyone a better perspective on why we are here anyways. Especially in the day we live in, I think that America needs to be reminded of our very foundations. A firm foundation provides that its building will last for a long time, but even the strongest foundations crack if they are not tended to, and we need desparately to go back to ours as a nation, before it is too late... and remember this also, a house divided cannot stand, unity may be our last hope!!!
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I loved this. Every country is governed by humans, and what is it they say....."To err is human" with that in mind I know our countries governing forces mess things up, but still I love our country, America! I appreciated this authors stand for change, and his recognition of all things it took to bring us here. History is to be learned from, and I think we've come a long way from slavery to equality. I am thankful for a democracy, and not being subject to a dictatorship. He is right, we the people do need to redeem our country, and that is why we have a democracy, the voting process that gives US a voice! I am grateful for the freedom of speech, the freedom to worship as I choose without being shot for my beliefs, and my freedom to pursue happiness. Most all things on this Earthly plane could undergo some changes, so why not America?
Loving My Country,
Laurenna
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What beautiful words . I just returned from visiting my sister in Texas this past Tuesday . We went to see a rodeo ....at the beginning a girl on a horse rode through the arena carrying the flag as the song " America " was being played. I went on a crying jerk that I could just not stop ..........I felt so much loss at what America should be and once was . And btw , I was not born here. I am from Europe, married an american and am now living and raising our family here
Reenie
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This is really deep and i know that america isn't all that it's cracked up to bee and you wrote that very well keep writing
Braden
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wow! that is a very strong and interesting poem! i love it god bless america,
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I remember this poem from my American Lit course in college, I loved it then and I love it now still. Very emotional write...from Langston Hughes...I always love that sort of poem, one that screams Justice! in an Unjust world.....
Thanks
Sarah aka rhiannon 11 -
Amen, amen amen amen. Wonderful. Fantastic. Marvolous. Amazing. Where is my Thesaurus?? I need better words.
~All 28~ -
i love this poem and I love Langston Hughes and I love the Afro-Am. National Anthem (and yes I am "white") points to whoever submitted this!!
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Astounding and very moving as well. It makes me want to go out and speak to random people about America, ....Just Kidding. This poem is great. The way it shows the controlled emotion of the writer is flawless because of the rational ability to speak on behalf of all, this therefore is not a one sided argument but a dream for all can imagine it for themselves. Beautiful.
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omg..I love this poem...seeing as no one commented on it I will..mwahhahahaha.lol. hehe I cant wait for speech/debate to start up cause I was actully planning on doing this one!!! hehe..im retarded.....lol
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