Langston Hughes’s Mother to Son Legacy “A Declaration of Independence”
Texarkana Community Journal - May 2009
Langston Hughes’s Mother to Son Legacy “A Declaration of Independence”
– By Sandra Dukes
The acclaimed poet Langston Hughes was accredited for his artistic contributions in helping to construct the “Harlem Renaissance” of the 1920s and was often called the ‘Architect’
of the early Harlem Renaissance. Hughes’s characteristic style of writing was from a realism point of view. Along with Zora Neale Hurston he felt it was important to write stories that were a reflection of African-Americans true lifestyles and culture. There were complexities in having such convictions. Hughes, felt to be true to his works, he could not idealize his people, for the sake of social and political movements. Hughes considered himself a realist and modernist and wrote of the African – American urbanites in the poetry forms of stanzas built upon a platform, of the musical rhythm of jazz and the blues, everyday speech and liberty for all people (The Norton Anthology of American Literature 1914-1945(1891-1892)).
Hughes’s poem “Mother to Son” is a testimony of what life had been for her and her race and class of people, it is a metaphoric guideline of surviving and succeeding in a life, which was demanding on the mind, body and spirit. It is a mother’s ‘legacy to her son. Her own ‘Declaration of Independence’. The speaker in this poem, the mother, is preparing her son for life and its difficulties and its rewards. “Mother to Son” is a ballad; this prose poetry exudes with satire which creates the mood and tone of forewarning against the casualties of life and the rewards of fortitude.
Mother to Son
Well, son I’ll tell you
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair
It’s had tacks in it’
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor
Bare. (Lines 1-7)
To quote Aristotle “the greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor”. Hughes epitomizes ‘the mastery of metaphor’, in his use of the words ‘crystal stair’ to represent ‘the mother’s journey in life’. Hughes uses the extremism of the word ‘crystal ‘to the antagonism of the mother’s attitude towards life. The life lesson she counsels to her son is enhanced by the diction of her speech. One is given possibly a better profile into ‘the mother’s background, by the manner in which she speaks. In the 1920’s when southern rural blacks migrated to the north in search of a better life, those with lesser education and skills, were sometimes employed as domestic maids. The “crystal stair”, then could symbolize an effortless life versus a life of hardship “with no tacks, splinters and boards torn-up”, representing the rebuking of discrimination of the social classes and servitude. The mother recounts to the son of her adversities through life and how she overcame them:
“But all the time
I been a-climbin’ on,
And reaching’ landin’s,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light. (Lines 8-12)
The mother counsels her son, by encouraging him to believe in himself and attain in life, what it has to offer:
So boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now-
For I’se still going’, honey,
I’se still climbing’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. (Lines13-20)
“The Poet Laureate of Harlem”, Langston Hughes, conveyed the heart-beat of Harlem and the ’New Negro’. Hughes’s “Mother to Son “is a mother’s gift of teaching her child that in an unjust society one must ‘declare his own independence’.
Freedom of creative expression, whether personal or collective, is one of the many legacies of Langston Hughes, who has been called “the architect” of the black poetic tradition. He is one of the world’s most universally beloved poets, read by children and teachers, scholars and poets, musicians and historians. That “freedom of creative expression” lives and flourishes, and is honored in the African American writers of today. Their voices are now for a whole America, with a tone that sings out to embrace our heritage as a complete America in efforts to become “architects” of a better America. In their pledge to allegiance these writers speak to the problems that address our families, communities, and our country and yes even our churches.
Next Month June 2009- Texarkana Community Journal (www.myspace.com/tcjnews)
One such writer declaring his independence is Dr. Joseph B. Howard, Apostle, teacher, author and creator of Phoenix of Grace Writers Society and radio host of Phoenix of Grace Word in the Desert. In Dr. Howard’s new book “Battered Clergy” From Victim to Victor,he confronts the problems of domestic abuse not often or easily spoken of, in which a minister, a man suffers from verbal, emotional and physical abuse from his wife, in this book the minister finally re-claims freedom through his dedication to God and his ministry.
Langston Hughes’s Mother to Son Legacy “A Declaration of Independence”
– By Sandra Dukes
The acclaimed poet Langston Hughes was accredited for his artistic contributions in helping to construct the “Harlem Renaissance” of the 1920s and was often called the ‘Architect’
of the early Harlem Renaissance. Hughes’s characteristic style of writing was from a realism point of view. Along with Zora Neale Hurston he felt it was important to write stories that were a reflection of African-Americans true lifestyles and culture. There were complexities in having such convictions. Hughes, felt to be true to his works, he could not idealize his people, for the sake of social and political movements. Hughes considered himself a realist and modernist and wrote of the African – American urbanites in the poetry forms of stanzas built upon a platform, of the musical rhythm of jazz and the blues, everyday speech and liberty for all people (The Norton Anthology of American Literature 1914-1945(1891-1892)).
Hughes’s poem “Mother to Son” is a testimony of what life had been for her and her race and class of people, it is a metaphoric guideline of surviving and succeeding in a life, which was demanding on the mind, body and spirit. It is a mother’s ‘legacy to her son. Her own ‘Declaration of Independence’. The speaker in this poem, the mother, is preparing her son for life and its difficulties and its rewards. “Mother to Son” is a ballad; this prose poetry exudes with satire which creates the mood and tone of forewarning against the casualties of life and the rewards of fortitude.
Mother to Son
Well, son I’ll tell you
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair
It’s had tacks in it’
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor
Bare. (Lines 1-7)
To quote Aristotle “the greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor”. Hughes epitomizes ‘the mastery of metaphor’, in his use of the words ‘crystal stair’ to represent ‘the mother’s journey in life’. Hughes uses the extremism of the word ‘crystal ‘to the antagonism of the mother’s attitude towards life. The life lesson she counsels to her son is enhanced by the diction of her speech. One is given possibly a better profile into ‘the mother’s background, by the manner in which she speaks. In the 1920’s when southern rural blacks migrated to the north in search of a better life, those with lesser education and skills, were sometimes employed as domestic maids. The “crystal stair”, then could symbolize an effortless life versus a life of hardship “with no tacks, splinters and boards torn-up”, representing the rebuking of discrimination of the social classes and servitude. The mother recounts to the son of her adversities through life and how she overcame them:
“But all the time
I been a-climbin’ on,
And reaching’ landin’s,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light. (Lines 8-12)
The mother counsels her son, by encouraging him to believe in himself and attain in life, what it has to offer:
So boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now-
For I’se still going’, honey,
I’se still climbing’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. (Lines13-20)
“The Poet Laureate of Harlem”, Langston Hughes, conveyed the heart-beat of Harlem and the ’New Negro’. Hughes’s “Mother to Son “is a mother’s gift of teaching her child that in an unjust society one must ‘declare his own independence’.
Freedom of creative expression, whether personal or collective, is one of the many legacies of Langston Hughes, who has been called “the architect” of the black poetic tradition. He is one of the world’s most universally beloved poets, read by children and teachers, scholars and poets, musicians and historians. That “freedom of creative expression” lives and flourishes, and is honored in the African American writers of today. Their voices are now for a whole America, with a tone that sings out to embrace our heritage as a complete America in efforts to become “architects” of a better America. In their pledge to allegiance these writers speak to the problems that address our families, communities, and our country and yes even our churches.
Next Month June 2009- Texarkana Community Journal (www.myspace.com/tcjnews)
One such writer declaring his independence is Dr. Joseph B. Howard, Apostle, teacher, author and creator of Phoenix of Grace Writers Society and radio host of Phoenix of Grace Word in the Desert. In Dr. Howard’s new book “Battered Clergy” From Victim to Victor,he confronts the problems of domestic abuse not often or easily spoken of, in which a minister, a man suffers from verbal, emotional and physical abuse from his wife, in this book the minister finally re-claims freedom through his dedication to God and his ministry.
Comment
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Comment by Prophetess Sandra Dukes, a.m. on May 9, 2009 at 11:31am
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Thank you for those kind and encouraging words. Langston Hughes has always been one of my most beloved poets. He has the ability to pour himself into his works and relate the essence of the particular situation, simply but profoundly; he, (Hughes) writes within an emotional scale that is rare. I am sure knowing him personally was amazing yet quite challenging (smile). He has brought me to tears of empathy and to feeling the rage of injustice. I would personally like to *invite you to join me at Dr. Howard’s Phoenix of Grace Writers Forum where lovers of the literary arts meet “a place to discuss publishing, writing, and editing while networking with all genres of authors”. – The site is expanding its amenities to nurture apprentice and veteran writers and poets. *
http://phoenixofgracewritersforum.ning.com/profile/SANDRADUKES
All the information you want concerning Dr. Joseph B. Howard’s new book “Battered Clergy” from Victim to Victor by W. S. Polk, Jr. is at:
http://phoenixofgracewritersforum.ning.com/
I also encourage you to visit Dr. Sandy Murphy’s site another anointed servant of the Lord and accomplished and noted author. “A place where authors, or members of Dr. Sandy's "Choice" Book Club, upload their book cover on photo pages and share a short description about their books for Dr. Sandy's Radio Show Interview, the site also offers other members comments or book reading opportunities”.
http://www.blackpreachingnetwork.com/group/readmybookclub
God Bless until we meet again- Sister Sandra Dukes, a.m. (for the Word in me is the God in me)
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Comment by Justine E. Hanif on May 9, 2009 at 12:28am
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Thank you for sharing Langston Hughes poem. It is one of my favorites. I have known it since I was in Jr. High. I am not 51. It is a family favorite between myself and my sister. We often Quote it. It was refreshing reading it again. It is so appropriate for today. I am also looking into purchasing Dr. Howard's book. My ministry deals with christian divorce. One of the topics I have focused on is "Men Cry Too!" We often look at the wife's situation when discussing divorce. However there are many wounded men especially ministers who married and found they did not have a help mate. Thank you for sharing this information..If this book is not available in the stores or Amazon please let me know where I can purchase it. God Bless.
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