Understanding this poem, and its place in the larger context of Hughes' work, requires an understanding of Hughes' life. ... The opening stanza of Hughes' "Cubes" is "In the days of the broken cubes of Picasso/And in the days of the broken songs of the young men/A little too drunk to sing/And the young women/A little too unsure of love to love/I met on the boulevards of Paris/An African from Senegal," (qtd. in Moglen 4). ... This is key to the understanding of the whole poem. ... The poem is full of imagery that tries to show both sides of dualities at the same time. ... He is ...

• Word Count: 2547
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

"The Harlem Dancer" is a poem written by McKay in which many different poetic apects emerge as we read the poem. ... People might think that this poem is a story of a dancer from Harlem. ... In this poem, the tone is cheerful, but at times there is some discontent. ... As I read the beginning, I assumed it was going to be about a happy, light-hearted occasion. ... The poem is broken into four parts, presenting an argument in each piece and there is a two line summary at the end. ...

• Word Count: 1662
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

"The Harlem Dancer" is a poem written by McKay in which many different poetic apects emerge as we read the poem. ... People might think that this poem is a story of a dancer from Harlem. ... In this poem, the tone is cheerful, but at times there is some discontent. ... As I read the beginning, I assumed it was going to be about a happy, light-hearted occasion. ... The poem is broken into four parts, presenting an argument in each piece and there is a two line summary at the end. ...

• Word Count: 1634
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Literature I believe goes beyond words on a paper but they are feelings from the heart, they bring out the persons personality and characteristics. ... Artist drew pictures of what they portrayed of the black life; singers sang their heart of how life was for them. ... Another writer of the time that wrote poems about black experience was Countee Cullen. ... "Silences are being broken, lost things have been found" says Toni Morrison about the African American literature that was beginning to come out (Morrison, 254). ...

• Word Count: 2368
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School