Episode 44: Theme for English B by Langston Hughes

Read and more GoodPoetry at www.GoodPoetry.org, and listen on iTunes, Stitcher and GooglePlay Music and connect with us @itsGoodPoetry on Facebook, and Twitter. -------------------------------- "Theme for English B" by Langston Hughes The instructor said, Go home and write  a page tonight.  And let that page come out of you—  Then, it will be true. I wonder if it’s that simple?  I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem.  I went to school there, then 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 not be 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.