The author himself said it. This adult figure in his life carried significant weight in his decision making. Langston was determined to see Jesus. He trusted and loved his aunt; and so he embraced his aunt's promises and her religious thoughts.
During this church rally Langston patiently waited to see Jesus, the light, and then receive his salvation. Firmly believing in the literal meaning of his aunt's words, coupled by a naive misunderstanding, he says "Still I kept waiting to see Jesus. " Again the author is showing us how strong a child's faith is in those he loves. He is still waiting for his aunts promise to come, despite having seen all the children go up to the alter claiming to "see " Jesus and the light. The use of first person shows its power and constant emphasis on the story's message by again separating the facts from opinions. There is no doubt in the reader's mind that such quotes or lines in the story can be subject to interpretation when the word "I " is present, which clearly depicts what the author was thinking, expecting, and feeling in that moment. After so much waiting, Langston decides it is time to go up and fake his salvation. The pressure put on his shoulders was too much and he could no longer hold up the service. Langston Hughes states "Now it was really getting late. I began to be ashamed of myself, holding everything up so long. So I got up. " So much time had been allotted so Langston can receive his salvation and he had enough. He decided it was time to just give up and with that, the negative impact in his life began.
Langston Hughes experienced disappointment, betrayal, and loss of faith. He expected to see Jesus, be saved, and be correctly guided by his aunt. But things did not turn out the way he thought. He was betrayed and forsaken. When in first-person, the author is enabled to explicitly state certain emotions instead of portraying them. It helps them present their theme and message they want to send the audience.