The Negro Speaks of Rivers: An Analysis Langston Hughes, a poet in the early twentieth century is known for his poems about urban life and racial affirmation. In the poem The Negro Speaks of Rivers, Hughes tells a story of the black man’s evolution to America. The poem illustrates racial pride and dignity. Hughes uses symbolism, free verse, and tone to create a clear picture of black history. In the poem The Negro Speaks …showed first 75 words of 551 total…

…showed last 75 words of 551 total…black man who has experienced the pain of slavery and racism, and his soul now has the trademark of these experiences. In The Negro Speaks of Rivers the struggle of black culture is portrayed clearly. Hughes combines many different aspects of literature including symbolism, tone, and free verse to illustrate the experiences of the Negro man. Throughout history Langston Hughes has made many contributions to the black culture and it is displayed in this poem.