USA HISTORY

THE ROARING 20S 1920 1929

ART AND CULTURE OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Langston Hughes:“Harlem"In “Harlem, “ the last line can best be interpreted as a
A
warning.
B
symbol of hopelessness.
C
reassurance.
D
signal of faith.
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -One of the most ready-to-hand interpretations of that final line-“Or does it explode?”-is to think of the explosion as a riot, a reflection of the possibility that the oppressive conditions marginalized communities in Harlem and across Jim Crow America face might lead to open rebellion.

Detailed explanation-2: -Answer and Explanation: Langston Hughes’ poem Warning is meant as a warning to the racist white majority that controls the United States. They see black people are being simple and “docile", but if they were every allowed to reach their full potential, they might threaten the power-structure that exists in America.

Detailed explanation-3: -The last line of this poem is written in italics, which causes the reader to pay extra close attention to the emphasis put on this final question. He asks, Or does it explode? With this final question, Hughes implies that one can only carry a heavy load for so long.

Detailed explanation-4: -The final line of ‘Harlem’ suggests that if African Americans continue to endure the grinding poverty, mistreatment, and lack of opportunities they are currently enduring, their anger may burst out in an explosion of energy and rage.

There is 1 question to complete.