Essay On Langston's Revival

Harlem Renaissance was undoubtedly a cultural and social-political movement for the African American race. The Renaissance was many things to people, but it is best described as a cultural movement in which the high level of black artistic cultural production, demanded and received recognition. Many African American writers, musicians, poets, and leaders were able to express their creativity in many ways in response to their social condition. Until the Harlem Renaissance, poetry and literature were dominated by the white people and were all about the white culture. One writer in particular, Langston Hughes, broke through those barriers that very few African-American artists had done before this

Langston Hughes was one of the great writers of his time. He was named the “most renowned African American poet of the 20th century” (McLaren). Through his writing he made many contributions to following generations by writing about African American issues in creative ways including the use of blues and jazz. Langston Hughes captured the scene of Harlem life in the early 20th century significantly influencing American Literature. He once explained that his writing was an attempt to “explain and illuminate the Negro condition in America” (Daniel 760). To fulfill this task, he wrote 15 volumes of poetry, six novels, three books, 11 plays, and a variety of non-fiction work (Daniel 760). He also edited over 50 books in his time (McKay).

Langston Hughes’ short essay, “Salvation,” is a controversial yet interesting story that brings many conflicts between people in society. He discusses his personal point of view about his religious experience. Although religion has impacted many people throughout the years, it is still an extremely debatable topic. Many people believe that if you go to church you’ll be good for the rest of your life and just because you convince them as kid to behave a certain way, it will stop them from making poor choices, but it does not always work that way. Religion has historically been a problem for so long; it has divided humanity in so many ways. This story represents how much religion can use fear to gain power, but it also brings a sense of hope

Langston Hughes was one of the first black men to express the spirit of blues and jazz

Langston was a twelve year old who majority of his time in the church with his aunt. As he grew up he saw the many changes of people and faces the church. Langston was starting to lose faith. He did not know if he should believe there was a Jesus. Langston gave up hope on Jesus when he was lost and confused, and he felt there was no one there to help him in his time of need. Hughes' faced some challenging experiences and this demonstrated to him how adults may confuse children, especially when adults don't take the time to explain the religious metaphors children are trying to understand. Langston’s, Auntie Reed is primarily responsible for his loss of faith at an early age. Langston’s aunt should of taken the time explaining to Langston that Jesus' words were as they appear in The Sermon on the Mount serve as a useful guide for living one's life, she told him that "when you were saved you saw a light, and something happened to your insides!" At that point when Langston heard those words he was more confused than before. Langston wanted to make sense of the information his Auntie Reed was sharing with him but he

Faith and conformity can go hand in hand. When one has family members that belong to a religion it is easier to conform to keep the peace then to rebel and strain relationships with one’s family. One may ask if this conformity is worth the guilt that comes with lying to one’s family and self. Saying one thing but doing another can inflict an enormous amount of guilt on a person, especially a young child. In Langston Hughes’s story, “Salvation” (1940), the reader gains insight into what happens when a twelve year old conforms into a religion they do not truly believe in.

This is not case, when someone is save God comes to you spiritually and mentally but not in the physical. Langston whole misconception of this concept of being saved ultimately causes he to believe his decision to be save was a deceitful one. In return damaging Langston belief in Jesus and the true meaning of salvation.

The details provided in the book explain the story moderately well. In the book, Langston writes about how much pressure he felt from the altar to be saved by Christ. The book paints a good visual picture on how crowded and hot the church was. In the book , Langston explains how devoted

during this time he quickly became a part of the Harlem Renaissance. Four years later,

Langston Hughes inspired others to reach their true potential in their work by using their own life as a catalyst:

Langston Hughes was also pressured at a religious revival to “see” Jesus and become a part of his aunt’s faith in his story,

From the first two paragraphs, it is easy to see that young Langston is quick to believe anything that an adult says. “She said you could see and hear and feel Jesus in your soul. I believed her.” (Lines 13-15) Based off his Aunt’s words young Langston is quick to believe in them and aspires to experience the feeling that she described.

In Langston Hughes 's autobiographical anecdote, “Salvation,” the author reflects on his childhood, and also examines the basis on which his religious views were founded. Hughes 's nonfiction piece, written in adulthood, allows him to look back on his past and reconsider what he learned about salvation, as well as organized religion and conformity, as a child. Because of this inquiry, he begins to question the ways in which adults pressure young people to conform to their views of religion, even without having the deep feeling of faith required. When people are young, they are often asked to conform to roles that they don’t really understand or think deeply about, and religious duty is thus carried on without a lot of free will. Langston Hughes divulges the hypocrisy and the fraudulent faith of the Church and its indoctrinated members through irony and his own indoctrination into his damning salvation. The church service pressures and bullies young Hughes into falsifying his salvation. This ceremony proves that the church values tradition over faith.

     Langston Hughes’s writing showcases a variety of themes and moods, and his distinguished career led his biographer, Arnold Rampersad, to describe him as “perhaps the most representative black American writer.” Many of his poems illustrate his role as a spokesman for African American society and the working poor. In others, he relates his ideas on the importance of heritage and the past. Hughes accomplishes this with a straightforward, easily understandable writing style that clearly conveys his thoughts and opinions, although he has frequently been criticized for the slightly negative tone to his works.

Hughes describes a scene that is familiar to a lot of young African American children. An auntie, Nana, or a papa always wanted to make sure you received the word. The WORD, is what they called it. More people of that era believed in Jesus and the church. Having a relationship with the lord was considered a main priority in their homes. They clung onto the WORD to get through all the injustice and hard times that most people go through in that time frame. This is why the dialogue of the story was so important to understanding why this was very important to his aunt and also for him. He was told by his aunt all the good things that would come from seeing and accepting Jesus into his life and wanted to feel that and make his auntie proud.