An Examination ofThe Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain: A Story by Langston Hughes

The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain, a story by Langston Hughes, is about an African American poet who would rather be a white poet. A white poet meaning a whiter person. This was showing that at the time they knew it was easier to be a white man or a white writer. At the time, artists such as poets in the black community were looked down on. This was during the 1960s in America, nowadays there are many African American poets and writers whose works are celebrated. It is hard to think that only a few decades ago there was such a change in attitudes.

The essay by Hughes continues speaking about families of the time. That African American families would teach their children to worship the white man and try to become more like them. That if they were misbehaving that they were acting too black and would be punished for that. That was a sad time in history when someone would want to keep their own culture away from their children. That families believed that being white would be the only way to go. This must have effected the minds of children for years to come. How much life has truly changed, or has it? Our these children now as adults still feeling the effects from these upbringings. Do they still feel that they must act white to become a bigger part of society. Or is the black community rising up and finally finding their roots in America's history, present, and future?

Continuing on through this essay it speaks of a lack of difference between middle and upper class African Americas. That it was not really a financial aspect that made these two groups different but the way these people acted. The more white they acted the higher up in society these people would get. Now a days a person can be who they are and not act a certain way to succeed in society. Although some things in the African American community is still frowned upon by society and although there still is racial tension in some smaller towns in America. The mind set from the Langston Hughes 1960s have changed tremendously.

Finally Langston Hughes speaks of artist who held on to their culture, who at the time were almost shunned by everyone else. But some how this community broke free. That their ways and art had become mainstream. That people now look to the artists as heroes and look upon them as saviors of the community.

In conclusion, reading this essay has helped me see the past of the African American community more clearly. It made me sad to read each passage but happy to see how much things truly have changed. As time proceeds by things will continue to get better for everyone and we will all be one happy community in the end.