I have discovered in life that there are ways of getting almost anywhere you want to go, if you really want to go.
Langston HughesRead
To my mind, it is the duty of the younger Negro artist, if he accepts any duties at all from outsiders, to change through the force of his art that old whispering 'I want to be white,' hidden in the aspirations of his people, to 'Why should I want to be white? I am a Negro - and beautiful!'
Interpretation
What this quote means
Langston Hughes emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and pride in one's identity through art.
In this quote, Hughes speaks to the responsibility of younger Black artists to transform the societal pressures that promote the notion of whiteness as superior. He encourages them to reject these harmful ideals and embrace their own identity, asserting that being a Negro is beautiful and worthy of celebration. This reinforces the idea that art can be a powerful tool for change and self-affirmation.
Themes
IdentityArtPrideBeautySelf-AcceptanceNegro
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech on cultural identity, one might reference this quote to highlight the importance of artists in shaping societal views.
More from Langston Hughes
All quotes →My writing has been largely concerned with the depicting of Negro life in America.
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I tire so of hearing people say, Let things take their course. Tomorrow is another day. I do not need my freedom when I'm dead. I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.
Langston HughesRead
An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose.
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The calm, Cool face of the river, Asked me for a kiss
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The only way to get a thing done is to start to do it, then keep on doing it, and finally you'll finish it.
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