Langston Hughes represented the African American culture in his poems, describing his utmost feelings towards America during the racial segregation era. Hughes’ use of cultural slang was inspired by the places he lived, which revealed the despairing tone the African Americans felt during this time period. As a result, his poems often shared the same theme of hope that one day blacks and whites could come together as one without , breaking free from racial inequality, and striving for a better future. The pride of his race, culture, and history are clear in his literature.
Hughes tackled the same storyline of black people in his poem “Mother to Son”, but this time from a different perspective. The tone of the poem is informative, encouraging, and hopeful poem from the perspective of a mother narrating to her son, who it may also be seen to represent the younger generation. “Mother to Son” is based on the idea of hope and encouragement to move forward in life, despite all difficulties, and no matter how tough life may become. The mother’s sufferings and her strength in overcoming the hardships she encountered in her lifetime. She is telling her son that life “ain’t no crystal stair, It had tacks in it, and splinters, and boards torn up”.
It is also the demonstration of the love a mother has for her son. Behind this love, Hughes emphasizes the idea of never giving up in any situation. The life of this black mother was full of hardships, and people mistreating her, she’s telling her son to let anyone stand in his way, wishing her son to be courageous and bold in the face of these challenges and to also succeed in life.
