Dream Deferred - Langston Hughes

[Jamvidbeast]

@HisAbsolutism I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen," Then. Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed-- I, too, am America.

[beetz15s]

Great job. Love your expression.

[guzsaj]

you don't have to do the mannerisms... your voice sounds very soothing it would be better if you were natural

[devillord18]

Bit off topic but you look like Mario (singer) with long hair lol. Thanks for your effort in reading it but only problem is that your voice doesn't sound as cool and collected as Morgan Freeman or Langston Hughes. Too much power in your voice, but great nevertheless.

[1977dwk]

@devillord18 Condescending and complimentary at the same time. Interesting.

[MarkWrightPsuedo]

You read "Harlem" it pretty well, but I think Hughes meant it in a different way. Rather than trying to end it with panache--try a kind of understated menace balanced with a curiosity. This is a great poem—of course almost anything Hughes wrote can be in that category.

I thought of another poem I think particularly suited to your voice--Amiri Baraka's "Black Art." Now there's a poem I think you can sink your teeth into!

[BettyBoop186]

You have a great voice. Please more poems from Langston Hughes!!!

Thanks

[pdnamightyriver1]

Feel free to see my Langston Hughes video at my page...

[joepro428]

what a tool

[Olebrucanism]

get a hair cut

[folksmith]

At least get the title correct.

[LuckyStarr22]

Hi, can you check out my poetry song!!!

Thanks & leave comments!!!

[sakinah112]

a dream deffered by langston huges . what happen to a dream deffered ? does it dry up like a rasin in the sun or fester like a sore and then run does it staink like rotton meat or crust and sugar over like a surupy sweet maby it just sags like a heavy load ..... or does it explode

[LlamaSensei]

I think there could have been more pause and emphasis at the end. Aside from that, this is awesome. You have an enchanting voice.

[Twiggel]

it probably explodes...lol

[Shyla3490]

poems called Harlem.. im doing a paper on it now...

[pablo4115]

great poem. but don't give up the day job. you can't strain to make every syllable meaningful. you'll only end up making none meaningful.

[Kaat1220]

Fable:

You read that poem EXACTLY as I do. You pause at just the right moments. If anyone is interested, read "Parisian Beggar Woman," and "I Too, Sing America." This man has so many great poems. A few rappers today should take notes. This man was a true artist.

[Steelics1]

Does it explode?

[guitarsRkool1]

@Steelics1 does he get angry and go off.

[TINAGUTTAH]

i love langston hughes. he is and forever will be known as a great writer.

[ShawtiezGotClass]

wow. you're really grgeat at readin poetry.

you use alot of emotion and facial epressions.

it makes the poem seem almost as if its coming alive.

if tha makes any sense. lol

[divafix]

i love this poem iv been learning about the writer and his poems in my english class.

[linznathanson]

It's also a personal affront to me as it's one of my favourite poems and as an English teacher accuracy is paramount when reading or performing the poem in this manner.

[Kaat1220]

linznathanson:

Please come off of your high horse. Just be glad that people love the poem. There is a way to correct people without being snotty about it.

Why should it be an affront you? You did not write it.

[linznathanson]

(con't from last post) from which only the first and last lines are separated and reads"Maybe it just sags/Like a heavy load". It can be argued that the inclusion of the "a" makes it seem less "slangy" and therefore more accessible to a wider audience. Whether this was Hughes' intention or not, I'm unsure. What I am sure if is that to know where you're going, you have to know from whence you came; and misquoting, and misnaming a poem is an affront to that history you're trying to pay homage to.

[linznathanson]

The poem's called "Harlem (A Dream Deferred)" written in 1951; OR if you're talking about the 1958 version it's "Harlem II". There are certain obvious differences in the format of the 2, but the wording is basically the same; the only difference lies in lines 10 and 11 - in the 1951 version, the lines compose their own short stanza or couplet and read: "Maybe it just sags/Like heavy load" while the 1958 version includes these lines as part of the main stanza... (continued next post)

[thenetwork00]

speechless

[moesrecordlove]

JClax10 what you said was very deep. Langston was a genius. Absolutely amazing poetry.

[CaramelMamiChula]

can somebody please the explicate this poem?.i love this poem :-) !!!

[hussain3075]

R.I.P langston hughes

[hslovett02]

This video was simply inspiring. Look out for my new Langston Hughes video called things to come.

[nikkinikkay37]

goodness im late...

but I didn't know you did this one...definitely one of my favorite poems...brings back highschool memories

This made me realize I really need to get inspired to start writing again..

:)

[pink33169]

The title is "Harlem"

[sashasoto]

the poem was originally titled "dream deferred" so you can call it either, you're both right :)

[ANDTOTOPITOFF]

@pink33169 The original title was "Harlem" and then changed to "A Dream Deferred"

[JClax10]

Langston is that deal yo...real talk

This poem is such a classic...and is so timeless...i could hear it over and over again and pull something different out of it.

[chanelheaven]

amazing

[1PAPICHULO]

so addictive

[iGianMC]

(sigh)

One of my fav's...