Hair and Theme for English B Tone (Weblog 4)

The stories Hair, by Malcom X, and Theme for English B, by Langston Hughes, both address similar themes about racial inequality. Both stories agree that “white” people are above “black” people. However, the tones of the two memoirs are quite different. The tone of Hair is very hostile. Malcom X was angry with his old self for trying to conform to society. He was very disappointed. For example, he refers to his old actions as “self degredation” “violate and mutilate their God-created bodies” and he calls himself ridiculous and stupid for admiring his hair. However, the tone of Theme for English B was calmer and more playful. He does not seem hostile towards the racial inequalities although he does state that his professor is “older – and white – and somewhat more free.” This quote indicates the fact that Langston Hughes feels that white people are more free. As stated before, however, Langston Hughes does not have any hostile feelings towards his professor. In fact, his writing sounds playful. For example, he says “Harlem, I hear you: hear you hear me – we two – you, me, talk on this page. (I hear New York, too.) Me – who?” Langston Hughes uses words to make his poem sound more playful. He also uses repetition in this section by saying the word “hear” four times.

            Both authors write about similar issues, however their tones and motives make the two pieces different. Hair, by Malcom X, is more hostile. This memoir teaches people that conforming to society is not good and that those kinds of mistakes should not be made. On the other hand, Theme for English B by Langston Hughes states the fact that white people are above black people; however, the purpose of this poem was to show that Langston Hughes was the same as everybody else. The only difference was the color of his skin.