Interpreting the Theme of Racism in Ballad of the Landlord
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Langston Hughes is fantastic when it comes to writing about life in the south, whether viewing the material from a racial perspective or more of a general perspective, it speaks for itself. The themes are quite involving- everything from the use of southern accents to the events which take place are very challenging; this is especially obvious in "Ballad of the Landlord". This poem takes us back to grittiness of racism in the south back in the fifties. The events in this poem illustrate how it feels to be in the position of the speaker, who like anyone else just wants to be heard. All he wants is some simple maintenance for the problems in his apartment. In return he is met with animosity: he is bluntly ignored and threatened for speaking his mind, as were many black people at that time and place. The theme is apparent: it suggests the ignorance and fear which lies in the bowels of racism, and how the press and the government only encouraged these events to make examples of black people in the south- wherein lies absolutely no purpose.
It's safe to assume that the speaker is humble, despite his later aggression in the poem. At the beginning it seems as though he is calm and collective. He simply wants his apartment maintained like anyone else, since when is that so much to ask?..