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In "Aspiration", painted by Aaron Douglas, an idea of hope is depicted. After observing the image, I noticed that the people on the foreground are handcuffed. This leads me to the conclusion that they are slaves. Also, everyone seems to be reaching/pointing toward an illuminated, well-built building. Light usually symbolizes hope, so I presume that the it gives the slaves a glimmer of freedom. Finally, I observed that there is a large star in the direction that the people are pointing. In the Underground railroad, the North Star led the slaves to freedom. So again, Douglas illustrated hope through a sort of light.

Paintings by Aaron Douglas show a pattern of freedom, escape from slavery, this pattern is shown by a bright star which slaves followed through the Underground Railroad when they were escaping. This light gives them hope, hope radiates from the center of the picture and the slaves below raise their arms in praise and excitement. This optimism is bright in comparison to the negativity in the poem "Enslaved" by Claude McKay. "For weary centuries despised, oppressed, Enslaved and lynched, denied a human place In the great life line of the Christian West; And in the Black Land disinherited" Says Claude McKay as he speaks of his people, who were wrongly treated for their colors and cultures. They were rejected their god given rights and mistreated under the hands of the Christian West. This negative poem shows the cruelty and disgust of slavery in America, and reflects how Claude McKay thinks of it.

I think this picture shows the African Americans celebrating with music and the arts that they now have freedom to express. They seem happy and hopeful of the future now that they were free.

"Let America be America again" by Langston Hughes and "From Slavery to Reconstruction "by Aaron Douglas These work of writing and art, both by different men but in the same time period, depict America as a great hope or a great oppression. In the picture, " From Slavery to Reconstruction" There seems to be a bright source, just like most of his paintings. I believe if he wanted to show America being a terrible nation, he would have made the whole painting dark and gloomy, therefore making people interpret that there is no light, thus no hope. In" Let America Be America Again" He talks about how America is a faux, filled with ulterior motives, and a place where dreams are let down.He also says that they should just let America be what it was seen as in the eyes of dreamers. But he damped the notion when he said in pasrtheseses " ( it was never America for me)" . Both these pieces paint two entire different pictures of America. This shows that the outlook people have on America varies from their experience with the people and the politics.

Instead of the North Star bringing these people to freedom and hope, the birds are the sign of hope and a new world in this scenario. The people are following the birds to the north and their seems to be hope, because the people have packed up their stuff, left their homes and are traveling to the north.

This painting also represents similar traits as "Into Bondage", shows slavery and African-American history. Also represents hope, the man is standing with an instrument and light is shining down. Hope through music.

This was written in the early part of Langston Hughes's career - around 1932.

Dreams by Langston Hughes gives a positive message to never give up on dreams and never lose hope. He wants to remind americans to never lose hope and always follow their path of what they have always wanted to do. In th white city by Claude McKay he seems to be unsure of his dreams and questioning his dreams. That sends a negative message tha you shouldnt follow your dreams of what you have always wanted to do with your life.

In "dawn in New York" by Claude McKay, he sees the dawn of the sun over Manhattan is crimson-tinted and how the domes are cheerful. his spirit rises every day he sais because of this event. In December 1919 by Claude he talks about how much he missed his mother and how he had been feeling pain for ten long years.

"Into Bondage" by Aaron Douglas was premiered in 1936 at the Texas centennial exposition for the hall of Negro life. The picture is meant to portray African-American history, especially history. Douglas belief that knowing the past better was the way to help move forward.

The way I interpreted this painting is Aaron Douglas is trying to remind the racists that white people enslaved them years ago and now they are free but they don't feel free. Another way that I interpret this is Aaron Douglas is telling the black community that they have come very far.

"Into Bondage" by Aaron Douglas clearly exhibited sending slaves across seas and trading them for goods, the man on the platform is clearly looking at the North Star, he is looking for freedom, because during that time, the North Star guided escapen slaves through the Underground Railroad. The radiating light seems to resemble the sun and what a new day may bring, like a new life away from slavery, the other man with arms in the air seem to have the same atitude, but the rest of them seem to have lost their hope in this new life. Their hearts have been beaten to believe nothing good will come.

I chose this poem because I liked how he used a wall to show something keeping him from accomplishing his dreams.

"As I Grew Older" was Langston's Hughes' dream for the sun, the sky, freedom, equality. But in it, he was hindered, by a wall, that he could not pass, his enemies, the people who discriminated him. "And then the wall rose, Rose slowly, Slowly, Between me and my dream. Rose until it touched the sky- The wall. Shadow. I am black. I lie down in the shadow. No longer the light of my dream before me" But going back to the beginning of the poem, Langston seems to have lost hope, he has almost forgotten his dream, his desire to be the same as everyone else. So he fights on... Find my dream! "Help me to shatter this darkness, To smash this night, To break this shadow Into a thousand lights of sun, Into a thousand whirling dreams Of sun" He fights for what he thinks is right, he fights not for himself, but for people who feel the way he does, his dream speaks for everyone.

In both of these poems Langston is talking about how he had a dream and that he is trying to achieve his dreams, but also how it feels to be without dream. In "As I Grew Older", Langston describes how a dark wall blocks the light-hope-of his dream. He then describes how he broke through the wall and saw the light of his dream again. In "Dreams", Langston describes how it feels to be without a dream suggesting that he has been through that time and has come through and can see his dream again.

I like this poem because Langston Hughes is standing up for himself and talking more about equality. He sends a really strong message with just short and simple words.

In the poem "I, Too" By Langston Hughes he brings a real positive message about America saying how "I, Too am America." And how everyone is equal and everyone is America. He also says how he is the darker brother but how he also sings America. "I, Too Sing America." He brings this message about how everyone sings and is America no matter how they look. The poem that is more negative torwards America is "America" by Claud McKay. Claud starts off "Although she feeds me bread of bitterness, And sinks into my throat her tiger's tooth, Stealing my breath of life, I will confess." Claud is referring she to America, and how she does all this to him. He describes all the harsh things Claud has witnessed. He also talks how he feels about America and how he is scared almost. "I stand within her walls with not a shred Of terror, malice, not a word of jeer." Claud and Langstons poems have very different views in their poems. One is scared of America, and one feels he is America.

After reading poems written by Claude McKay and Langston Hughes, I observed a sense of emotion toward America. In some, for example, the poet's tone was harsh and grim. But in others, there was a feeling of hope and revival. The two poems I have chosen to discuss were written by people with very different beliefs of America, and we can see their opposite feelings through the writing they compose. In "I, Too", Langston Hughes wrote positively about the "tomorrow" of America. He described how he, as the darker brother, was always put in the kitchen when company came. And although throughout the poem Hughes talked about the inequality of America, he never seemed to give up hope. He wrote that he ate well and grew stronger because he had faith that one day he would be able to dine at the table when company came, "They'll see how beautiful I am." While "I, Too" is uplifting and exhibits trust in American equality, other poets portrayed their feelings in a more bitter way. Claude McKay, for instance, wrote in "Enslaved", "My heart grows sick with hate, becomes as lead/ For this my race that has no home on earth." As you can see, McKay's words have a harsher edge to them. Throughout the poem, he continued to write boldly and with a strong hate of America's injustice. Although Hughes and McKay had different ways of presenting their hopes, we, as readers, could identify the goal they both wished to portray: freedom and equality in America.

This represents hope because even though they are poor they still have hope.

This poem shows hope because the people are very proud about what they are doj g and there is a light shining on them to show hope

This painting seems hopeful because of the way the people seem to be heading towards the building and the building is illuminated with bright light.

The painting "The Aspects of Negro Life: An Idyll of the Deep South" by Aaron Douglas depicts slaves going about their daily activities. Some slaves are are working in the field and some are playing instruments. But one slaves attention is captured by a very bright star in the sky. This painting shows hope because he is looking to the star for hope.

This painting represents hope for the runaway slaves. The slaves are looking at the birds as to go North. The birds represent the hope for those people.

The first picture at the start of paragraph is "Harriet Tubman - No. 10." This is the image we looked at in class. Click on it to see it larger

In this picture I think its suppose to show Harriet Tubman's struggle to get across to the other side, I see some sort of chains near is leg and a snake in the left hand corner. This depicts her physical struggle and I feel people can connect to it because everyone has a mental struggle.- Cat

I believe that this painting, done by Jacob Lawrence, shows a scene of the Underground Railroad. Depicted in this image is a man clothed in a white robe. He is seemingly chained down to the ground, and he is blocked by an obstacle. However, the man reaches upward toward the North Star because the star provides hope of freedom.

This picture is the fourth one down from the top. It shows hopefulness because he is looking out the window toward the light outside the window.

This picture represents hope because even though these people are being sold they believe they can create a new life in the city.

This picture represents hope because if you keep moving you will make it to your goal. Also the are try to reach New York and they finally see the city.

In "One Friday Morning", Langston Hughes shows a very positive view of America. Even though Nancy Lee has all these great things that she earned taken away from her, she still believes in the purpose of America and she still loves the country even though it has taken the one thing that she had worked the hardest for. This is very different than Claude McKay's view on America in the poem "Enslaved". In this poem he talks about the race of black people being torn from their homes and being used and treated horrible and how his heart begins to turn to lead a with hatred and he talks about how black people have no home on this earth. He writes that he wants the white mans world of wonders to be swallowed into the earths vast tomb or roll upward like artificial smoke. He shjoews his hatred for white people and shows his hatred for america because of the white people.

"I have a dream", the famous speech spoken by Martin Luther King Jr., describes the dream that America will become a land of equality and justice. King said, "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed." He also talks about how he hopes that one day people will not be discriminated because of the color of their skin. Instead, he said that people should be judged by the content of their character. In addition, King discussed, metaphorically, that African Americans were given a check that read insufficient funds. However, he believed that his race was not "insufficient" and that there was a vast amount of opportunities for them. "One Friday Morning" by Langston Hughes similarly describes the racial discrimination of African Americans and the dream that one day America would ring of freedom. Although Nancy Lee was supposed to receive the art award, her color prevented her from the honor. She was "insufficient" and was not granted the opportunity that a white would've been. Furthermore, Miss O'Shay said, "Those who deny you this scholarship do not know the meaning of those stars." The meaning that she was talking about was life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And in both the speech and short story, determination for these rights was strongly fought for.

One Friday Morning by Langston Hughes is very similar to How it Feels to be Coldered Me by Zora Neale Houston because the main characters feel discriminated at first, but realized that they shouldnt worry about it. Zora says, "Someone is always at my elbow reminding me that I am the granddaughter of slaves. It fails to register depression with me. ". She doesnt feel the need to get mad over what other people think. Nancy Lee in One Friday Morning is upset at first but realizes she doesnt need to be. "​One hand went to the heart, the other outstretched toward the flag. Three thousand voices spoke. Among them was the voice of a dark girl whose cheeks were suddenly wet with tears, "...one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." "That is the land we must make," she thought." She knows that she can make a change and diesnt need to worry about what other people think. They csn both change lives and be themselves.

After exploring poems of the Harlem Renaissance, I chose "In Time of Silver Rain" written by Langston Hughes. I enjoyed reading this poem because the poet's description of rain and how it gives birth to new life was very vivid. I especially liked the line, "The butterflies lift silken wings To catch a rainbow cry." I liked how in this line (and others) Hughes used non-living things and gave them human characteristics. Finally, the poem was positive, and I appreciated that the poet discussed how the rains of spring give way to new life. Because the Harlem Renaissance was a rebirth for African Americans, this composition is symbolic of that.

In "To One Coming North" by Claude McKay it gives the idea that winter is harsh and dark and that spring is revival or rebirth do the year. In "Time Of Silver Rain" by Langston Hughes, it gives the idea that rain is the revival or rebirth of a new life that is vivid and colorful.

This poem was similar to "To One Coming North" by Claude McKay because they both shared the same message of rebirth. In both poems, spring was described as joyous and thought to bring hope. The spring was like a light at the end of a dark tunnel; the season made the difficult times worth it. Comment by Molly J and Katelyn M