The Negro Speaks of Rivers

By Langston Hughes

The Negro Speaks of Rivers is a poem by Langston Hughes in which he emphasizes how it is to be African American. I think he tried to project the history of the race starting in Africa, coming to America and finally getting their freedom. I consider that in this poem represents African American history in a really good way, and everything is represented by ancient rivers. Starting in the Euphrates, then the Congo, the Nile and finally the Mississippi River. Also, rivers mean movement and the human race is in constant movement. I really enjoyed how Langston Hughes tells African American history with those rivers, rivers that have been present in since ancient human history, even before the color of skin matters to society.

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