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Langston Hughes wrote the poem "Enemy" to explore themes of racism, discrimination, and social injustice. The poem reflects his experiences as an African American man in a society that often viewed him as an enemy simply because of his race. Hughes used his poetry as a tool for social commentary and to shed light on the inequalities and prejudices that existed in his time.

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6d ago
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15y ago

It is no surprise that democracy in the United States was nonexistent in the early 1900s and throughout the Jim Crow era, for blacks had no rights. Democracy back then was laughable and a joke - and outright biased. Government rule by the people pertained to whites exclusively, excluding all African Americans. Therefore, Langston Hughes felt compelled to speak his mind for equality and his birthright freedom via poetry. He clearly addresses his point of views about democracy in the first stanza of "Democracy" (1949).

He declares the following: "Democracy will not come / Today, this year / Nor ever / Through compromise and fear." He believes his rights should parallel those of white people, without compromising his dignity in any way. He declares he is an American and should have the rights to stand on his two feet and own his land, supported by lines 7 through 9. He doesn't want to wait for freedom; he wants to fight for freedom and make a change. Moreover, he is not too fond of passive individuals who say the following, "Let things take their course / Tomorrow is another day," because that kind of attitude signifies submission. He indicates that everybody should have the right to exercise their freedom because that's a birthright, for whites, blacks, and whomever. The final three lines - "I live here, too / I want freedom / Just as you" - need no interpretation, because the clarity of what he wants is obvious. Democracy implies free and equal representation of people; in more concrete language, it implies free and equal right of every single soul to participate in a system of government, which was nonexistent to blacks at the juncture due to the Jim Crow laws. The poem "Democracy" by Langston Hughes is one of many great poems (poetic protest) conceived throughout his illustrious poetic life. Written in 1949, he obviously wanted change and equality in the present when he was alive, and not in the future, for a dead man has no right to freedom. Appropriately, he had a pessimistic view of democracy because blacks were treated badly and suffered greatly. Can anyone blame a man for having such a negative view on democracy while living in a racist society? Absolutely not! Thousands of Black Americans had the same feeling. In reality, democracy was profoundly one-sided, for blacks were not allowed to be involved with any decision making, etc. Freedom and equality summarize the entire poem, for that is what Hughes wanted at the time - basic entitlement for one and for all.

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13y ago

his dreams died and hes warning people to not to make the mistake by letting them die too

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10y ago

because he can.

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11y ago

hawaida

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Q: Why did Langston Hughes write the poem enemy?
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