Monday, September 12, 2011

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!

4 comments:

  1. You're right BF; that's what needs to happen. Class warfare be da**ed.
    If only people could, or felt they could.
    (Hope this doesn't get us in trouble with Homeland Security!)

    ReplyDelete
  2. The title on the post below this would have been a good choice for this post:

    WIN SOME: LOSE SOME

    When you're brainwashed into "accepting everything" you lose your objectivity.

    No one remembers there ARE some things Americans shouldn't allow in their own country. Obama is one of those things.

    ReplyDelete
  3. There are two groups of people who would agree with you. The nutcases - Obama is (Black); Muslim; Alien; and a Communist. And those capable of rational thought who are beginning to recognize he has betrayed America by breaking every promise he made and every reason people voted for him.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Question. Has Obama betrayed his promises?
    Or have the Republicans simply blocked his every move for purely partisan purposes?
    Or has it been some of both?
    Or is just good old-fashioned racial bigotry?
    To me,the situation is not nearly so clear.

    ReplyDelete

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