Bridging Text and Context – As I Grew Older

Bridging Text and Context – As I Grew Older

The information we are given is about Langston Hughes and about the African – American artistic movement which is trying to improve the life of the African American people.

The information we are given about Langston Hughes is that he is a writer and a poet.
It tells us about his goal to achieve equal rights and freedom for the African American people. He tried to deliver the emotions and the voice of the African American people through his writing and to motivate otherAfrican American people to react towards the reality that is forced on them. He expressed pride in his blackness so others could rise and resist.

The information above is reflected in the poem. In the poem I can interpret that he has a dream that he wants to accomplish, and that dream is to get freedom and equal rights to the African American people. He wants to break the "wall" that prevents him and his people from being free and accomplishing their dreams. His fight against the laws of segregation is also reflected in the poem in the words "break through the wall!" he wants to encourage others to resist the segregation laws and fight for their equal rights in life.

As its says in the information, Langston in the poem "As I grew older" tries to motivate the African American people to believe in themselves and not to feel weak or inferior because of the color of their skin.
On the contrary, he wants them to believe that they can change the situation with their bare hands, he is trying to motivate them through the words "My dark hands break through the wall find my dream help me to shatter the darkness" with those words he tries to motivate his people to fight for their rights and for their dreams.
Using their hands also suggests creative artistic work, that is done with their hands.

Based on the information, I think that the speaker is the poet himself.

In the information I was told that he was a writer and a poet and that he wanted to express the African American emotions and voice through his writing, so I can infer that the speaker in the poem is also the Langston that is trying to tell his story and the story of his people. I think that the best way to deliver his message is to give a personal example from his life.
In that way, African Americans could identify with his idea of giving them the freedom and the rights they deserve. 

Better. Well done!
(93)
Daphna 

(תיקנתי)