Summary & Response

By: Nick Andrei Vicencio

Langston Hughes’ essay piece “My Early Days in Harlem” offers a thorough insight into the changes in some of the disparities in Harlem prior to the Harlem Renaissance. The author, itself, begins by revealing this main reason why he came to New York City. He wanted to study and pursue a degree at Columbia College as a freshman, [I had to come to New York to enter Columbia College as a Freshman]. During the early days of Langston’s time at Harlem, he mentioned working as a nightclub dishwasher and even a bus boy. Langston later realized, however, that his passion and appreciation for Harlem’s culture is the reason why he wanted to go to New York. For instance, he even discussed how he was inspired by music & art and more importantly by great poets/writers that lived under Harlem. When Langston had returned to Harlem in 1925, the Harlem Renaissance was at its height. He revealed that most of the African American artists of that time including: Countee Cullen, Aaron Douglas, Zora Neale Hurston, Rudolph Fisher, Jean Toomer, Wallace Thurman, Louis Armstrong, Cora La Redd, Alain Locke and etc. had the opportunity to share their art and talent. As Langston Hughes stated that, “Art took heart from Harlem creativity. Jazz filled the night air”. However, his thoughts and aspirations varied as he opens his mind from Harlem’s reality. However, as he spent his days in Harlem, he spotted that most of the businesses in Harlem were owned by whites. Most of the stores were white owned including famous night clubs and theatres. For instance, “The famous night clubs were owned by whites, as were the theaters. Almost all the stores were owned by whites, and many at that time did not even employ (in the very middle of Harlem) negro clerks. The books of published writers all had to be published downtown, if they were to be published at all. White downtown pulling all the strings in Harlem”. In addition to immersing The Harlem Renaissance, the goal of capitalization also came on behalf of the whites. This, I suppose, changed Langston’s view of Harlem. He started to understand several of the realities, as he discovers how African American were treated, which I believe, that led him to write an essay and poem.

Furthermore, speaking of the poem, “Dream Deferred ” by Langston Hughes deliberates what would happen when the dream is deferred. In the poem, he demonstrates his true sentiments by asking rhetorical questions. There is also a series of comparison [using Metaphor/Simile?]. In my understanding of this poem, I feel like it has to do with dreams that cannot be accomplished.

Overall, I sense that Langston Hughes wants to speak about how society used to be like in Harlem and how superiority took over. Personally, while reading his works, both in this essay and poem. I was really impressed by his writing ability.  I also liked how he illustrated his experience and how the Harlem Renaissance is like.