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Daniel Nelson - Poetry Explication Revision
Daniel Nelson - Poetry Explication Revision
Daniel Nelson
15 February 2023
Is Victory Enough?
“Why can’t V-Day be Me-Day too?” by Langston Hughes reveals how racial inequality is
still present, even during a time of victory and celebration after the U.S won in WWII. The
speaker is an African American soldier who fought in WWII and experienced traumatizing
things, like the death of a close friend, whom he made a promise “To make our land a land/
Where his son could be a man—/ And there'd be no Jim Crow birds/ Left in our sky.”(Hughes
30-33) The use of the term “Jim Crow Birds” refers to people who still believe in the Jim Crow
Laws and think that white people are superior to people of color, and they treat people of color
poorly. The speaker promises to change the ways of these prejudiced people, and have equality
for both races. This idea about racial equality continues in further description of the oppression
of the Jim Crow laws. Questioning the morals of the American people, the author writes “When
we see Victory's glow,/ Will you still let old Jim Crow/ Hold me back?” (35-37) The speaker is
wondering if the victory in WWII will be enough for the people to forget about “Old Jim Crow”
and finally treat African Americans as equals. Langston Hughes further builds on this when he
writes “You can't say I wasn't with you/ in each battle./ As a soldier, and a friend./ When this war
comes to an end,/ Will you herd me in a Jim Crow car/ Like cattle?”(63-66) The speaker risked
his life in battle to protect America’s freedom, and wants to be treated equally. Additionally the
use of simile when he compares himself to cattle, shows how he has been treated as though he
isn’t even human. He also once again refers to the Jim Crow laws which is repeated throughout
Nelson 2
the poem in order to put emphasis on how people of color have been treated as though they are
inferior to white people. The poem “Why can’t V-Day be Me-Day too?” Questions the American
people about if victory in WWII is enough for them to abandon the Jim Crow laws and finally
treat African Americans and white Americans as equals. During the Harlem renaissance black
people were wrongly mistreated solely on the color of their skin, and Langston Hughes wrote
Comments:
Thesis/
Theme
Comments:
Harlem Renaissance
and/or the poet’s
biography
Comments:
Comments:
Comments:
Grade: B