Sample Review of Poem

Review of ‘Let America Be Great Again’

The review presented above is that of ‘Let America be America Again’, a poem written by Langston Hughes in 1935. The poem is a critique of the American history and culture as well as a comparison between the old America and the new one. Contrary to peer authors of his age, Hughes takes on a different perspective to poetry by including a historical perspective and not separating his personal life from his literary views. This review is one that cries out in anger at injustice and future struggles of the people of the great nation of the United States of America. The author of the review begins by distinguishing between the two speakers present in the poem. The first speaker wishes for the glorious past to be relived, for America to return back to the times when the country had freedom and when all the dreams of today were a reality. The second speaker states that America has never really been America to them, thereby discrediting the notions of a land of prosperity and immeasurable opportunity. The initial speaker is symbolic of the utopic America, the one hoped for, while the second speaker represents a more realistic perspective of the current situation on the ground in America at the present time.

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            The review goes on to describe the position of the second speaker as that of the oppressed American who has had to undergo slavery, racism, exploitation, genocide and poverty all under the guise of developing the country and furthering the ideals of capitalism. The author expresses a sense of anger by maximizing on the position of the second speaker who represents the struggle of oppression and not focusing much on the first speaker who is a representation of hope for the future. The poem itself also seems to lean towards the anger at injustices committed even as the first speaker eventually concedes and crosses over to the second speaker’s point of view. However, the review presents a ray of hope in the conclusion by highlighting the joint position of both speakers when they declare that though America has never all it was meant to be, it will be exactly that in future. The resulting impression is that the oppressed are capable of making a new beginning to achieve all the goals and hopes of a new America. It also shows that past realities can help to shape and influence future actions.