Theme for English by Langston Hughes and In the Inner City...

Speaking Out â€Å"Theme for English B† by Langston Hughes and â€Å"in the inner city† by Lucille Clifton are both simple poems written by African American during a time where being black was not so popular and a trying time for those whom were black Americans. They both wrote about the plight of blacks during their perspective times; Hughes’ piece was one that spoken in a straightforward and blunt manner, while Clifton was a harsh and muggy one. Both of these poems were written in everyday language, I would imagine, ensuring that their point was one that was easy to understand. Hughes’ poem was not written without any rhyme scheme, while Clifton’s had some rhyme scheme. These poems show the darker side, the evil and violence towards fellow Americans because of their skin color. To me both Hughes and Clifton speaks out about the evil side during a time when it was not popular to speak out about this dark side; which was considered the norm. In the poem Theme for English B, by Langston Hughes, the teacher tells the speaker to go home and write. The speaker wonders if it is that simple; I can tell he does not feel passionate about the assignment. He begins by writing that he is twenty-two, colored, and born and educated in Winston-Salem, Durham, and at college in Harlem. He writes that he is the only colored student in his class. He walks down a hill into Harlem, crossing streets before arriving at the Harlem branch of the YMCA. He takes the elevator up to