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Let America Be America Again Poem Summary line by line

Let America Be America Again is written by Langston Hughes, an important participant in the Harlem Renaissance. The poem was first published in 1936, when social injustice and economic hardship were prevalent in the US. Hughes discusses the American dream and the contrast between the country’s beautiful image and the terrible reality that many oppressed people must endure.

Let America Be America Again Poem Summary

“Let America be America again”
- The first line of the poem establishes the tone for the whole. The speaker says that she wants America to live up to her goals and promises.
“Let it be the dream it used to be”
- The speaker yearns for the ideal of freedom, equality, and opportunity for all that America was once thought to represent.
“Let it be the pioneer on the plain”
- The pioneer is a metaphor for the pioneer spirit—a unique combination of invention, adventure, and exploration that defined early American history.
“Seeking a home where he himself is free”
- This sentence highlights the idea that people came to America originally in search of freedom from oppression and the power to shape their own lives.
“America never was America to me”
- This sentence highlights the idea that people came to America originally in search of freedom from oppression and the power to shape their own lives.
“And yet I swear this oath—America will be!”
- Despite acknowledging America’s historical failings, the speaker expresses hope and commitment to the idea that America can still live up to its promises in the future.
“Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death”
- The speaker references a tumultuous period marked by corruption, perhaps alluding to the economic hardships and social injustices of the time.
“The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies”
- This line highlights the pervasive corruption and deceit that the speaker believes have marred the true essence of America.
“We, the people, must redeem”
- The speaker calls upon the collective responsibility of the American people to reclaim the true spirit of the nation.
“The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers”
- This line emphasizes the need for economic and social justice, suggesting that the resources of the country should benefit everyone, not just a privileged few.
“The mountains and the endless plain—All, all the stretch of these great green states”
- The speaker refers to the vastness of America’s landscape, symbolizing the potential for abundance and prosperity for all its citizens.
“And make America again!”
- This concluding line reiterates the speaker’s desire to recreate and redefine America, emphasizing the potential for positive change.
“O, yes, I say it plain, America never was America to me”
- Repeating a similar sentiment from earlier in the poem, the speaker underscores the idea that, for certain individuals or groups, the American dream has remained elusive.
“And yet I swear this oath—America will be!”
- Repeating the earlier oath, the speaker maintains a sense of hope and determination, suggesting that despite past failures, there is potential for America to fulfill its promises.
“Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death”
- A repetition of an earlier line, reinforcing the imagery of a troubled and corrupt era.
“The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies”
- Another repetition, emphasizing the ongoing struggle against corruption and dishonesty in the nation.
“We, the people, must redeem”
- Reiterating the call for collective action and redemption by the people.
“The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers”
- A repeated line, emphasizing the necessity of equitable distribution and utilization of the country’s resources.
“The mountains and the endless plain—All, all the stretch of these great green states”
- The repetition underscores the vast potential for prosperity and opportunity that America offers.
“And make America again!”
- The poem concludes with a renewed call to action, urging the people to come together and work towards a better, more inclusive America.

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Let America Be America Again Poem

Let America be America again.

Let it be the dream it used to be.

Let it be the pioneer on the plain

Seeking a home where he himself is free.

(America never was America to me.)

Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed—

Let it be that great strong land of love

Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme

That any man be crushed by one above.

(It never was America to me.)

O, let my land be a land where Liberty

Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,

But opportunity is real, and life is free,

Equality is in the air we breathe.

(There’s never been equality for me,

Nor freedom in this “homeland of the free.”)

Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark?

And who are you that draws your veil across the stars?

I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart,

I am the Negro bearing slavery’s scars.

I am the red man driven from the land,

I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek—

And finding only the same old stupid plan

Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.

I am the young man, full of strength and hope,

Tangled in that ancient endless chain

Of profit, power, gain, of grab the land!

Of grab the gold! Of grab the ways of satisfying need!

Of work the men! Of take the pay!

Of owning everything for one’s own greed!

I am the farmer, bondsman to the soil.

I am the worker sold to the machine.

I am the Negro, servant to you all.

I am the people, humble, hungry, mean—

Hungry yet today despite the dream.

Beaten yet today—O, Pioneers!

I am the man who never got ahead,

The poorest worker bartered through the years.

Yet I’m the one who dreamt our basic dream

In the Old World while still a serf of kings,

Who dreamt a dream so strong, so brave, so true,

That even yet its mighty daring sings

In every brick and stone, in every furrow turned

That’s made America the land it has become.

O, I’m the man who sailed those early seas

In search of what I meant to be my home—

For I’m the one who left dark Ireland’s shore,

And Poland’s plain, and England’s grassy lea,

And torn from Black Africa’s strand I came

To build a “homeland of the free.”

The free?

Who said the free? Not me?

Surely not me? The millions on relief today?

The millions shot down when we strike?

The millions who have nothing for our pay?

For all the dreams we’ve dreamed

And all the songs we’ve sung

And all the hopes we’ve held

And all the flags we’ve hung,

The millions who have nothing for our pay—

Except the dream that’s almost dead today.

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!

Conclusion

Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes is a timeless poem that continues to resonate with readers due to its poignant exploration of the American dream and the stark contrast between the nation’s ideals and the lived experiences of many. Hughes masterfully employs repetition to emphasize key themes of corruption, inequality, and the collective responsibility of the people to redeem the nation. The poem’s concluding call to action instills a sense of hope, suggesting that America has the potential to fulfill its promises of freedom and equality for all.

FAQ:

1. What is the historical context of the poem?

The poem was written in 1936, during the midst of the Great Depression, a period of severe economic hardship in the United States. Additionally, this was a time of social and racial inequality, with marginalized communities facing discrimination and disenfranchisement.

2. Who is the speaker in the poem?

The speaker is not explicitly identified, but it is generally understood to represent the collective voice of those who have been marginalized and disenfranchised in America.

3. What is the significance of the repeated lines in the poem?

The repetition serves to underscore key themes and sentiments, emphasizing the enduring struggle against corruption, inequality, and the ongoing commitment to the idea that America can and should live up to its promises.

4. How does the poem address the American dream?

The poem critically examines the American dream, highlighting the disparity between the idealized vision of America as a land of opportunity and freedom and the harsh realities faced by marginalized groups for whom the American dream has been elusive.

5. What is the tone of the poem?

The tone is a mix of disillusionment, frustration, and hope. While the speaker acknowledges the failures and injustices in America’s history, there is an underlying optimism and determination that the nation can be redeemed and redefined.

6. How does Hughes use imagery in the poem?

Hughes employs vivid imagery, such as “rack and ruin,” “gangster death,” and “rape and rot,” to paint a stark picture of the corruption and decay that has marred