James Langston Hughes was born on 1 February 1902 in Joplin, Missouri and died on 22 May 1967. He was a poet, playwright, novelist, short story writer, and columnist. His mother was a school teacher who also wrote poetry. Through his many works, Hughes became one of the foremost interpreters of racial relationships in the United States.
"The Backlash Blues"
Mister Backlash, Mister Backlash,
Just who do you think I am?
You raise my taxes, freeze my wages,
Send my son to Vietnam
You give me second class house,
Second class schools.
Do you think that colored folks
ARe just second class fools?
When I try to find a job
To earn a little cash,
All you got to offer
Is a white backlash.
But the world is big,
Big and bright and round--
And it's full of folks like me who are
Black, Yellow, Beige, and Brown.
Mister Backlash, Mister Backlash
What do you think I got to lose?
I'm gonna leave you, Mister Backlash,
Singing your mean old backlash blues.
You're the one
Will have the blues.
Not me--
Wait and see!
Analysis of "The Backlash Blues"
"The Backlash Blues" is a poem in blues form, but its title focuses on the backlash against gains made by African-Americans and other disenfranchised groups during the civil rights movement. The poem reveals Langston Hughes' feelings about uneven, racial divisions in communities and low wages for blacks, which is what was referred to as "backlash."
In June 1967, "The Backlash Blues" was published and thought to be Hughes' last poem he submitted before his death. This was also the year that it was turned into a song; the music was composed by Nina Simone.
Very sad, gives perspective as to how life was.
ReplyDelete