Langston Hughes: "Minstrel Man"

Because my mouth

Is wide with laughter

And my throat

Is deep with song,

You do not think

I suffer after

I have held my pain

So long?


Because my mouth 


Is wide with laughter, 


You do not hear


My inner cry? 


Because my feet


Are gay with dancing, 


You do not know


I die?

The overall subject of this poem is the stereotype of the minstrel slave, or just the stereotypical black man. Langston Hughes is discussing the idea that all black men were dumb typical slaves who didn’t know very much about the world and had no unique interests; they were content with their simple, limited life. They were simply satisfied with working on a plantation all day long and in total obedience to their ‘master’.

Hughes tone in this poem is melancholy, he is mournful of all his past generations, and all the lives lost through slavery. One can tell he feels compelled to speak out because he is addressing the idea that even if people of color acted this way, they still were the same as everybody else, and had the same emotions.

Harlem Renaissance themes that are prevalent in this poem are exploration of Negro heritage, determination to fight against oppression, and anger at racism. Hughes is exploring the stereotype of the minstrel character, “wide with laughter… gay with dancing… deep with song” are all example of racist expectations of blacks during slavery, and relates to negro heritage. Interestingly, during the Harlem Renaissance the African American community entertained endlessly for both blacks and whites in various clubs through dance, song, and performance, however, it was many years before blacks were allowed in white clubs.

Clearly, this poem contains imagery and has lots symbolism. Hughes is trying to communicate that they were people too, but white people failed to recognize this. The line, “You do not know I die?” shows that black people went through the same things as white people. This quote can communicate Hughes anger and frustration that existed then and even up till today.

Overall, this poem is a great example of a Harlem Renaissance artist exploring ideas about Negro heritage and history.