Langston Hughes and Malcom X are two very famous authors. Langston Hughes wrote the poem Theme for English B and Malcom X wrote the memoir Hair. They are very similar in that they mostly write about racial issues because they are both African American. For example, at one point in their lives, they were uncomfortable with the color of their skin. They thought that being black meant that they were “less free.” Langston Hughes demonstrates this by saying “although you’re older –and white–.” Malcom X indicates this throughout his whole story. He says “Never use a metal spoon; the lye will turn it black” which shows that he thinks that black is bad. They were both also uncomfortable with adapting and changing who they are. Lastly, they both went through many things to become “white” or be like the majority. For example, Langston Hughes needed to travel a lot to get from home to school. “The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem, thrgouh a park, then I cross St. Nicholas, Eighth Avenue, Seventh, and I come to the Y, the Harlem Branch Y, where I take the elevator up to my room, sit down and write this page.” Malcom X says that he dyed his hair red to appear “white.” In his memoir, he describes the process as “self-degradation”, and “violation and mutilation of their God-created bodies to try to look pretty by white standards.”
Although these two writers have many similarities, they have some differences. For example, even though both writers were somewhat uncomfortable with their race, only Malcom X altered his appearance by dying his hair red. Langston Hughes only describes how he was different from his English Professor, but he did not do anything to change himself. Another difference was that Langston Hughes was “the only colored student in [his] class.” However, Malcom X seems to have lived in a community with people of similar racial background.
Both Langston Hughes and Malcom X had similar problems, however, the way they dealt with their problems and their surroundings were quite different.
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