Although much of Langston Hughes's and Richard Wright's writing expressed social protest, there is one genre —the essay— that has gone largely unnoticed.
In the eyes of Hughes and Wright, custom, tradition and religion may be seen as some of the root causes of racism because they are largely interiorized, but they by far cannot serve alone as satisfying explanations for it. Important in the creation of racism is e.g. the negative projection of colored people in the media. Consequently, this forms a fatal preconception of blacks that is constantly being reproduced. Langston Hughes and Richard Wright, among the most prolific of American writers,
gained international attention and acclaim in nearly every genre of writing, including
poetry, the short story, the novel, drama, the libretto, the autobiography, journalistic
prose, children's and adolescent literature and song lyrics. Although much of their
writing, often expressing social protest, was easily accessible to scholars and general
readers, there is one genre —the essay— that has gone largely unnoticed. Yet such
essays and short, non-fiction passages contribute significantly to Hughes’s and
Wright’s work, striving for racial equality on a local level, a national, as well as global
levels.
At first glance, it may appear fruitless to compare the non-fiction works of
Hughes and Wright, since the writers became famous for their poetry and fictional
masterpieces. Also, a comparison between Wright’s rather epic artistic style and
Hughes’s dense, often ironic prose may seem unlikely and difficult. Yet, on closer
inspection, you will find that both writers are surprisingly close to one another in their
way of thinking, and their conclusions often overlap.
Hughes was a columnist for the famous African-American newspaper, the
“Chicago Defender,” where he commented on contemporary issues and chronicled
the hopes and despairs of his people. In spite of the different origins of the writers,
Hughes and Wright were confronted early on with race discrimination and
segregation, publicly know as “Jim Crow-ism1,” which was identified and condemned
in their essays.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Why and Wherefore
1.2 Methodological Reflection
2. Types of Discrimination
3. Common Denominators
4. Root Causes
5. Breaking the Cycle of Discrimination
Objectives and Thematic Focus
This academic paper examines and compares the non-fiction essays and journalistic columns of Langston Hughes and Richard Wright, focusing on their shared critique of racial discrimination and social injustice during the 1930s. The central research question explores how both authors identify the root causes of systemic oppression and how they propose to break the cycle of discrimination across individual, social, and institutional levels.
- Comparative analysis of Hughes’ journalistic prose and Wright’s philosophical essayistic work.
- Examination of systemic structures, such as Jim Crow-ism and institutionalized segregation.
- Critique of western traditions, religion, and the "black and white" thinking that fosters racism.
- The role of the intellectual and the artist in fighting for human freedom and social equality.
- The interplay between democracy, the individual, and global colonial politics.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 Why and Wherefore
Langston Hughes and Richard Wright, among the most prolific of American writers, gained international attention and acclaim in nearly every genre of writing, including poetry, the short story, the novel, drama, the libretto, the autobiography, journalistic prose, children's and adolescent literature and song lyrics. Although much of their writing, often expressing social protest, was easily accessible to scholars and general readers, there is one genre —the essay— that has gone largely unnoticed. Yet such essays and short, non-fiction passages contribute significantly to Hughes’s and Wright’s work, striving for racial equality on a local level, a national, as well as global levels.
At first glance, it may appear fruitless to compare the non-fiction works of Hughes and Wright, since the writers became famous for their poetry and fictional masterpieces. Also, a comparison between Wright’s rather epic artistic style and Hughes’s dense, often ironic prose may seem unlikely and difficult. Yet, on closer inspection, you will find that both writers are surprisingly close to one another in their way of thinking, and their conclusions often overlap.
Hughes was a columnist for the famous African-American newspaper, the “Chicago Defender,” where he commented on contemporary issues and chronicled the hopes and despairs of his people. In spite of the different origins of the writers, Hughes and Wright were confronted early on with race discrimination and segregation, publicly know as “Jim Crow-ism1,” which was identified and condemned in their essays. Although Hughes is best known as a folk poet, he channelled some of his most powerful critiques of economic and racial exploitation and oppression through the essay genre, reflecting on contemporary issues ranging from the death of the Dean of Women at Fisk University, who was denied treatment at a white hospital,
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the scope of the study, introducing the authors and the relevance of their essayistic work in the context of racial struggle and social protest.
1.1 Why and Wherefore: Explains the rationale behind comparing Hughes and Wright, emphasizing their shared thematic concerns despite differences in their literary styles.
1.2 Methodological Reflection: Details the cultural studies approach used to examine key facts, stylistic means, and the authors' proposed tasks for abolishing discrimination.
2. Types of Discrimination: Analyzes discrimination across three distinct tiers: the individual level, the group or class level, and the institutional level.
3. Common Denominators: Explores the shared intellectual ground between the authors, particularly their critique of rigid categorizations and "black and white" thinking.
4. Root Causes: Investigates the historical and ideological origins of racism, linking them to religion, tradition, and the misapplication of western values.
5. Breaking the Cycle of Discrimination: Evaluates practical strategies for social change, focusing on political participation, artistic protest, and the necessity of overcoming institutional barriers.
Keywords
Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, racial discrimination, Jim Crow, social protest, civil rights, essay, systemic oppression, American literature, institutional racism, western tradition, social equality, political participation, human freedom, cultural studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper provides a comparative analysis of Langston Hughes and Richard Wright, focusing specifically on their non-fiction essays and newspaper articles as instruments of social protest against racial discrimination.
What are the central themes discussed in this work?
The central themes include the systemic nature of discrimination (individual, group, and institutional), the role of tradition and religion in perpetuating racism, and the responsibility of intellectuals in striving for equality.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to demonstrate that both authors, despite different stylistic backgrounds, converge on universal conclusions regarding the necessity of dismantling systems of oppression to secure human freedom.
Which scientific method is applied here?
The author employs a cultural studies approach, which contextualizes the authors' non-fiction works to identify common denominators in the problems they address and the solutions they advocate.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
It covers the levels of discrimination, the root causes stemming from history and ideology, and the practical steps proposed to break the cycle of oppression through political and intellectual agency.
Which keywords best characterize this analysis?
Key terms include Jim Crow, racial discrimination, social protest, institutional racism, intellectual agency, and the comparative literary analysis of Hughes and Wright.
How does the author define the role of "tradition" in this context?
The author, referencing Wright, describes tradition as a potential trap that enforces irrational human behavior and maintains systems of inequality by shielding them from critical reflection.
What specific connection is drawn between the Scottsboro Case and the authors' work?
The Scottsboro Case serves as a recurring metaphor and example for the authors to illustrate the failure of the American justice system and the urgent need for African-American mobilization and protest.
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- Bert Bobock (Autor:in), 2002, Seeking roots of discrimination, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/94623
