'Freedoms Plow' by Langston Hughes
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When a man starts out with nothing,When a man starts out with his handsEmpty, but clean,When a man starts to build a world,
He starts first with himself
And the faith that is in his heart-
The strength there,
The will there to build.First in the heart is the dream-
Then the mind starts seeking a way.
His eyes look out on the world,
On the great wooded world,
On the rich soil of the world,
On the rivers of the world.The eyes see there materials for building,
See the difficulties, too, and the obstacles.
The mind seeks a way to overcome these obstacles.
The hand seeks tools to cut the wood,
To till the soil, and harness the power of the waters.
Then the hand seeks other hands to help,
A community of hands to help-
Thus the dream becomes not one man's dream alone,
But a community dream.
Not my dream alone, but our dream.
Not my world alone,
But your world and my world,
Belonging to all the hands who build.A long time ago, but not too long ago,
Ships came from across the sea
Bringing the Pilgrims and prayer-makers,
Adventurers and booty seekers,
Free men and indentured servants,
Slave men and slave masters, all new-
To a new world, America!With billowing sails the galleons came
Bringing men and dreams, women and dreams.
In little bands together,
Heart reaching out to heart,
Hand reaching out to hand,
They began to build our land.
Some were free hands
Seeking a greater freedom,
Some were indentured hands
Hoping to find their freedom,
Some were slave hands
Guarding in their hearts the seed of freedom,
But the word was there always:Freedom.Down into the earth went the plow
In the free hands and the slave hands,
In indentured hands and adventurous hands,
Turning the rich soil went the plow in many hands
That planted and harvested the food that fed
And the cotton that clothed America.
Clang against the trees went the ax into many hands
That hewed and shaped the rooftops of America.
Splash into the rivers and the seas went the boat-hulls
That moved and transported America.
Crack went the whips that drove the horses
Across the plains of America.
Free hands and slave hands,
Indentured hands, adventurous hands,
White hands and black hands
Held the plow handles,
Ax handles, hammer handles,
Launched the boats and whipped the horses
That fed and housed and moved America.
Thus together through labor,
All these hands made America.Labor! Out of labor came villages
And the towns that grew cities.
Labor! Out of labor came the rowboats
And the sailboats and the steamboats,
Came the wagons, and the coaches,
Covered wagons, stage coaches,
Out of labor came the factories,
Came the foundries, came the railroads.
Came the marts and markets, shops and stores,
Came the mighty products moulded, manufactured,
Sold in shops, piled in warehouses,
Shipped the wide world over:
Out of labor-white hands and black hands-
Came the dream, the strength, the will,
And the way to build America.
Now it is Me here, and You there.
Now it's Manhattan, Chicago,
Seattle, New Orleans,
Boston and El Paso-
Now it's the U.S.A.A long time ago, but not too long ago, a man said:ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL--ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATORWITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS--AMONG THESE LIFE, LIBERTYAND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
His name was Jefferson. There were slaves then,
But in their hearts the slaves believed him, too,
And silently too for granted
That what he said was also meant for them.
It was a long time ago,
But not so long ago at that, Lincoln said:NO MAN IS GOOD ENOUGHTO GOVERN ANOTHER MANWITHOUT THAT OTHER'S CONSENT.
There were slaves then, too,
But in their hearts the slaves knew
What he said must be meant for every human being-
Else it had no meaning for anyone.
Then a man said:BETTER TO DIE FREETHAN TO LIVE SLAVES
He was a colored man who had been a slave
But had run away to freedom.
And the slaves knew
What Frederick Douglass said was true.With John Brown at Harper's Ferry, Negroes died.
John Brown was hung.
Before the Civil War, days were dark,
And nobody knew for sure
When freedom would triumph
"Or if it would," thought some.
But others new it had to triumph.
In those dark days of slavery,
Guarding in their hearts the seed of freedom,
The slaves made up a song:Keep Your Hand On The Plow! Hold On!
That song meant just what it said: Hold On!
Freedom will come!Keep Your Hand On The Plow! Hold On!
Out of war it came, bloody and terrible!
But it came!
Some there were, as always,
Who doubted that the war would end right,
That the slaves would be free,
Or that the union would stand,
But now we know how it all came out.
Out of the darkest days for people and a nation,
We know now how it came out.
There was light when the battle clouds rolled away.
There was a great wooded land,
And men united as a nation.America is a dream.
The poet says it was promises.
The people say it is promises-that will come true.
The people do not always say things out loud,
Nor write them down on paper.
The people often hold
Great thoughts in their deepest hearts
And sometimes only blunderingly express them,
Haltingly and stumblingly say them,
And faultily put them into practice.
The people do not always understand each other.
But there is, somewhere there,
Always the trying to understand,
And the trying to say,
"You are a man. Together we are building our land."America!
Land created in common,
Dream nourished in common,
Keep your hand on the plow! Hold on!
If the house is not yet finished,
Don't be discouraged, builder!
If the fight is not yet won,
Don't be weary, soldier!
The plan and the pattern is here,
Woven from the beginning
Into the warp and woof of America:ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.NO MAN IS GOOD ENOUGHTO GOVERN ANOTHER MANWITHOUT HIS CONSENT.BETTER DIE FREE,THAN TO LIVE SLAVES.
Who said those things? Americans!
Who owns those words? America!
Who is America? You, me!
We are America!
To the enemy who would conquer us from without,
We say, NO!
To the enemy who would divide
And conquer us from within,
We say, NO!FREEDOM!BROTHERHOOD!DEMOCRACY!
To all the enemies of these great words:
We say, NO!A long time ago,
An enslaved people heading toward freedom
Made up a song:Keep Your Hand On The Plow! Hold On!
The plow plowed a new furrow
Across the field of history.
Into that furrow the freedom seed was dropped.
From that seed a tree grew, is growing, will ever grow.
That tree is for everybody,
For all America, for all the world.
May its branches spread and shelter grow
Until all races and all peoples know its shade.KEEP YOUR HAND ON THE PLOW! HOLD ON!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry Analysis of Langston Hughes’ Freedom’s Plow
As a celebrated figure of the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes is renowned for his soulful poetry that explores the African American experience. In Freedom’s Plow, Hughes uses vivid imagery, lyrical language, and powerful metaphors to celebrate the struggles, triumphs and hopes of black Americans in their quest for freedom and equality.
Background
Published in 1943, Freedom’s Plow is a tribute to the resilience and strength of the black community who have long dealt with slavery, racism, and segregation. The title of the poem is drawn from a biblical passage that compares the struggle for freedom to the hard labor of farming. In this poem, Hughes likens the work of social activism to the work of a farmer who plows the fields in preparation for planting. The poem is an extended metaphor that deepens our understanding of the fight for civil rights and the contributions of those who have fought for social justice.
Literary Analysis
The poem comprises six sections that explore different aspects of the African American experience. Each section is a stanza that depicts the progress of the struggle for freedom, from the days of slavery to the then-present day. Hughes uses a wide range of literary devices to vividly illustrate the experiences of black Americans.
Imagery
Hughes’ use of vivid imagery effectively portrays the struggles and triumphs of the black community. In the first stanza, for example, he uses the image of a slave ship to depict the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade. He describes the ship as a “dark, dim hold” filled with “the scent of hate and death”. This image is powerful in its simplicity and evokes the feeling of claustrophobia and despair that the enslaved Africans must have felt.
Metaphors
The extended metaphor of the farmer and the plow is central to the poem. Hughes compares the work of social activists to the work of a farmer who plows the fields in preparation for planting. He writes:
“Who said the free? Not the millions Who toil in the dust and dirt Not the millions who work and wait For the harvest to bring them bread”
This metaphor emphasizes the idea that the work of social activism is an ongoing process that requires patience, perseverance, and hard work. Just as a farmer must prepare the soil before planting, social activists must prepare the ground before achieving their goals.
Symbolism
Hughes uses symbolism to represent the hopes and aspirations of the black community. In the second stanza, he writes:
“America never was America to me And yet I swear this oath — America will be!”
Here, America represents the promise of equality and freedom. Hughes acknowledges that America has not lived up to its promise, but he remains hopeful that it will one day be a place where all people are treated equally.
Tone
The tone of the poem is one of hope and resilience. While Hughes acknowledges the struggles that black Americans have faced, he also celebrates their strength and perseverance. In the fourth stanza, for example, he writes:
“O, let America be America again— The land that never has been yet— And yet must be—the land where every man is free.”
This stanza emphasizes the idea that America has the potential to be a place where all people are free, but that this potential has not yet been realized.
Repetition
Hughes uses repetition to emphasize key ideas and to create a sense of rhythm and flow. In the final stanza, for example, he repeats the phrase “Freedom’s plow” four times. This repetition emphasizes the central metaphor of the poem and reinforces the idea that the work of social activism is ongoing and requires persistence.
Conclusion
Freedom’s Plow is a powerful poem that celebrates the resilience and strength of the black community in their struggle for freedom and equality. Through its use of vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and lyrical language, the poem deepens our understanding of the African American experience and the contributions of those who have fought for social justice. Hughes’ hopeful and resilient tone reminds us that while the struggle for equality is ongoing, the potential for a better future is always within reach.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a form of art that has the power to move people, to inspire them, and to make them think. Langston Hughes, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, was a master of this art form. His poem "Freedom's Plow" is a powerful and inspiring work that speaks to the struggles and triumphs of the African American community.
"Freedom's Plow" was first published in 1943, during a time when the civil rights movement was gaining momentum in the United States. The poem is a call to action, urging African Americans to continue the fight for freedom and equality. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of the struggle for civil rights, and it remains relevant today.
The poem begins with the lines, "When a man starts out with nothing, / When a man starts out with his hands / Empty, but clean, / When a man starts to build a world, / He starts first with himself / And the faith that is in his heart- / The strength there, / The will there to build."
These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem. They speak to the idea that change begins with the individual, and that it is up to each person to take responsibility for their own life and their own actions. The idea of starting with nothing and building something from scratch is a powerful metaphor for the struggle for civil rights. It speaks to the idea that African Americans had to start from scratch, with nothing but their own strength and determination, in order to build a better future for themselves and their children.
The poem goes on to describe the struggles that African Americans have faced throughout history. It speaks to the idea that they have been oppressed and marginalized, but that they have never given up the fight for freedom and equality. The lines, "I am the farmer, bondsman to the soil. / I am the worker sold to the machine. / I am the Negro, servant to you all. / I am the people, humble, hungry, mean- / Hungry yet today despite the dream. / Beaten yet today-O, Pioneers! / I am the man who never got ahead, / The poorest worker bartered through the years," speak to the idea that African Americans have been exploited and mistreated throughout history, but that they have never lost hope.
The poem then takes a turn towards hope and inspiration. It speaks to the idea that African Americans have the power to change their own destiny, and that they have the strength and determination to do so. The lines, "Yet I'm the one who dreamt our basic dream / In the Old World while still a serf of kings, / Who dreamt a dream so strong, so brave, so true, / That even yet its mighty daring sings / In every brick and stone, in every furrow turned / That's made America the land it has become. / O, I'm the man who sailed those early seas / In search of what I meant to be my home- / For I'm the one who left dark Ireland's shore, / And Poland's plain, and England's grassy lea, / And torn from Black Africa's strand I came / To build a "homeland of the free."
These lines speak to the idea that African Americans have always had a dream of freedom and equality, and that they have worked tirelessly to make that dream a reality. The idea of building a "homeland of the free" is a powerful one, and it speaks to the idea that African Americans have always been a part of the American dream.
The poem ends with the lines, "Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death, / The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies, / We, the people, must redeem / The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers. / The mountains and the endless plain- / All, all the stretch of these great green states- / And make America again!"
These lines are a call to action, urging African Americans to continue the fight for freedom and equality. They speak to the idea that the struggle for civil rights is not over, and that there is still work to be done. The idea of "redeeming" the land, the mines, the plants, and the rivers is a powerful one, and it speaks to the idea that African Americans have a stake in the future of America.
In conclusion, "Freedom's Plow" is a powerful and inspiring poem that speaks to the struggles and triumphs of the African American community. It is a call to action, urging African Americans to continue the fight for freedom and equality. The poem speaks to the idea that change begins with the individual, and that it is up to each person to take responsibility for their own life and their own actions. The poem is a testament to the strength and determination of the African American community, and it remains relevant today.
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