Two Americas

Hughes’ poem “Let America Be America Again” talks about two different perspectives of America.  There is the real America and theAmerica that Hughes is wanting.  He is writing from the view of the oppressed people in the real America.  Hughes says that America has never really been the free land that many people try to make it seem like.  The oppressed are the poor, the Native Americans, the Africans, and the immigrants and he says that no matter how much people oppress them their will stays strong.  Hughes wants everyone to be equal in America.  He wants people to see others for who they are not just for what they do or do not have.  In the poem Hughes sounds kind of angry.  He is almost angry that everyone else does not have the same views as he does.  In the Great Gatsby the rich all seem to look down on the less wealthy.  This is exactly what Hughes is talking about in his poem.  He thinks that regardless of status people should all be equal.  I think that the American Dream has become very hard to achieve if you are born poor.  It costs so much to go to college and an education is now essential for a successful life.  The American Dream used to be accessible with out an education.  However now education is the most important thing.  Class mobility has almost completely disappeared in the United States now.