Let America Be America Again

Langston Hughes 1902-1967 was a black American poet, "known for his insightful, colorful portrayals of black life in America from the twenties through the sixties. He wrote novels, short stories and plays, as well as poetry."  You can read more about him here.

I found this poem of his "Let America be America Again" and thought it fitting.  Ten years on from 9/11 mostly we have lessons unlearned and questions unanswered.  The world is a safer place for the ruling class which in the name of counter-terrorism has continued to slowly cut back on freedom of the individual.  But Langston Hughes' poem brings some hope.  I need permission to quote the entire poem but you can read it here.  The last few verses go like this.

O, let America be America again--
The land that never has been yet--
And yet must be--the land where every man is free.
The land that's mine--the poor man's, Indian's, Negro's, ME--
Who made America,
Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain,
Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain,
Must bring back our mighty dream again.

Sure, call me any ugly name you choose--
The steel of freedom does not stain.
From those who live like leeches on the people's lives,
We must take back our land again,
America!

O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath--
America will be!

Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death,
The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies,
We, the people, must redeem
The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.
The mountains and the endless plain--
All, all the stretch of these great green states--
And make America again!