How does the poet use colour as a symbol of race?

Answer

How does the poet use colour as a symbol of race? [NU: 2015, 22] ★★★

Langston Hughes (1901-1967) is a prominent African-American poet. He often uses colour as a symbol of race in his poems. In “I, Too, Sing America” and “The Weary Blues,” the colour black is connected with the identity, pain, and strength of black African Americans.

Colour in “I, Too, Sing America”: In this poem, the speaker calls himself the darker brother.

“I am the darker brother.”

The word “darker” here is about skin colour. It is a symbol of race. Here, the speaker means to say that he is just another American, regardless of the color of his skin. He is just a black brother. He loves America and shares the same hope and dream. But he also feels the pain of racial inequality. Because of this colour, he is sent to eat in the kitchen when guests come.

But at the same time, the speaker is proud of being the “darker brother.” He believes that tomorrow people will see his beauty. So, the colour here shows both the suffering and pride of the African-American race.

Colour in “The Weary Blues”: In this poem, Hughes describes a black singer singing a sad song at Lenox Avenue at night. He writes:

“Coming from a black man’s soul.

O Blues!”

Here, the word “black” is not only about skin. It becomes a symbol of the deep sorrow and struggle of the race. The man’s dark skin colour is joined with his sad song. The “Weary Blues” shows the tiredness of black life under racial injustice.

So, in both poems, colour is used as a symbol of race. In “I, Too, Sing America,” the darker skin shows inequality but also hope for respect. In “The Weary Blues,”