Summary 'As I Grew Older'

"As I Grew Older" is a poem about the dreams that the poet was unable to achieve because of
racial discrimination. The poet, in his childhood, had dreams but as time passed and he grew
up, he was subjected to racial prejudice and oppression. In the beginning of the poem, the
speaker recalls a dream which he had long ago and had nearly forgotten, the speaker
represents all African Americans who had to give up their dreams due to the discrimination
prevalent in the early 20th century in the American society. As the poem progresses, the
speaker's disappointment turns into determination. The speaker forcefully commands his "dark
hands" (that represent his race that has always stood as a barrier in the path of his dream), to
break through the wall so that he can achieve his dream. He wants to "shatter this darkness",
"smash this night" and "break this shadow into a thousand lights of Sun". The sunlight
represents a hope to achieve his dream. He wants happiness. Therefore, there is a self
realisation to grasp for a dream that might be out of reach.

1. What has happened to the dream in the poem “As I Grew Older”?
2. Is the poem “As I Grew Older” optimistic or pessimistic?
3. What do the speaker’s hands represent in the poem “As I Grew Older”?
4. Which wall do you think separates the poet from his dream?
5. What do you think lying beside the shadow implies?

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