THEME FOR ENGLISH B

ANALYSIS
In Theme for English B by Langston Hughes, a black college student
is given an assignment by his instructor to write a page about himself. The
page is supposed to come out of him so that it would be true. The
speakers paper speaks about his life and details what he feels.
As he debates whether he should write the truth, he records this
internal struggle. He wonders if his white instructor will be able to
understand his life as a black youth living in a black community but studying
in a white college. He eventually ends up writing his paper about this internal
debate.
He begins by saying that he is twenty-two years old and the only
coloured student in his class. He has previously attended white schools. He
describes his route home. It is said that he has to go down a hill and walk to
get to his apartment. This is an example of symbolism. The black community
is physically and socially below the white one. It is also shown that the
speaker has to walk such a distance. He did not use- or probably could not
afford- a vehicle.
He says that he shares the culture of Harlem as that is his
environment. However, he says, he likes the same things as people of other
ethnic backgrounds. Even though his environment and social standing are
different from the youths of his class, he is not so different from them after
all. He still searches his identity, saying that his personality is not confined to
any stereotyping of black people, but he is not white.
The speaker says that he is a part of the instructor as the instructor is
of him. Even though they may have their disagreements, they are not
completely different- as society would have you believe. They are both
American and learn from each other. Here, the speakers self respect is
portrayed. It is shown that he knows that his instructor could learn things
from him. There is an instance of irony nearing the end of the poem in the
word somewhat. The instructor is said to be somewhat freer than the
black student. This is an understatement. The instructor would have much
more of an advantage in the situation since he is the elder one, the one in
the position of authority in the college and the white one.

This poem shows that English B is about equality. It is about learning

from each other and living as one people.

COMPARISON WITH DREAMING BLACK BOY

The poems Dreaming Black Boy by James Berry and Theme for
English B present instances of racism. In both poems, a black student is
receiving subtle racial discrimination from his teacher/lecturer and persons of
other races in general.
In Dreaming Black Boy, the black boy is in a class of white students
and has a white teacher. In Theme for English B, the boy is the only
coloured student in his class and his instructor is also white. His college is
predominantly attended by white students.
In Dreaming Black Boy, the boy laments that he is not
congratulated- or even acknowledged for doing something good. As a result,
he refrains from answering questions in class. In Theme for English B, the
boy has not made any specific references to instances of racism but
mentions that the instructor would not want to be a part of him, showing that
they have their differences. As a result, he has to wonder whether to write
the truth in his paper for fear of being misunderstood or disadvantaged.
In Dreaming Black Boy, the focus is the disadvantages that the boy
has to face because he is black. He wishes that he could enjoy his life and
that racial persons would not discriminate against him. This persona wishes
that racist persons would change their ways. In Theme for English B, the
focus is identity of the boy- who he really is. He is black but he has interests
similar to those of white people. This persona talks about the life of the black
boy but shows that people of various races really are not that different after
all.
In both poems, the main theme is racial discrimination. The personas
are being affected and wish to be treated like everyone else.