THEME FOR ENGLISH B (1951)

Langston Hughes (1902-1967)

The instructor said,

I wonder if it’s that simple?

I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem.

I went to school there, in Durham, then here

to this college on the hill above Harlem.

I am the only colored student in my class.

The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem,

through a park, then I cross St. Nicholas,

Eighth Avenue, Seventh, and I come to the Y,

the Harlem Branch Y, where I take the elevator

up to my room, sit down, and write this page:

It’s not easy to know what is true for you or me

at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I’m what

I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you:

hear you, hear me-we two-you, me, talk on this page,

(I hear New York, too.) Me-who?

Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love.

I like to work, read, learn, and understand life.

I like a pipe for a Christmas present,

or records-Bessie, bop, or Bach.

I guess being colored doesn’t make me not like the same things other folks like who are other races.

So will my page be colored that I write?

Being me, it will be not white.

but it will be

a part of you, instructor.

You are white-

yet a part of me, as I am a part of you.

That’s American,.

Sometimes perhaps you don’t want to be a part of me.

Nor do I often want to be a part of you.

But we are, that’s true!

As I learn from you, I guess you learn from me-

although you’re older-and white-

and somewhat more free.

This is my page for English B.