Footnotes

1. The most noticeable characteristic I observed in the poem was the lack of a rhyme scheme. The poem as a result resembles a stream of consciousness that addresses a large group of people. The author utilizes a large amount of sensory details such as, "eating blood and gold" as a mechanism to motivate the reader and inspire change. The description of kids dying is a sensitive topic that few people would attempt to discuss. The bold content of the poem translates the seriousness of the subject matter and the urgent need for swift action. ▲
2. I agree completely with Zack's annotation. Hughes discusses an important issue within society from a new perspective. He appears to be addressing an issue that is even bigger than the racial issue. Hughes is showing us that we all have something in common and in this case it is a sad truth. We are often driven by self-interest and at times have no concern to help others. Kendrick Daniel ▲
3. This poem tells of how the young "kids" who wish for equality and rights for all people will be beaten down by the rich, but will eventually have their deaths and tragedies turned into triumph. The most interesting part of this poem is that Hughes, a black poet, does not separate the poem into a struggle of black versus white. This is the subject for many African-American poets as they write about the struggle against slavery and white oppression. Instead Hughes expresses the conflict between all of the poor who have been marginalized in the past, the "Whites and Filipinos/ Negroes and Mexicans." Hughes is bringing together all of the people who have had to struggle to survive and prosper. Against these people he pits the rich, "the gentlemen with Dr. in front of their names." Hughes has portrayed these men as the real barrier between people such as African-Americans rising from their poorer means. And these rich men are also "White and Black." Hughes shows that people of any race, when they reach a certain height of prosperity will push others down in order to retain their place at the top and marginalize the others for profit. -Zack Roward ▲
4. I find it surprising that Langston Hughes also mentions "money-loving preachers" (line 28) in the same breath as generals and corrupt politicans and judges. When one thinks of the Harlem Renaissance, rebellion against any form of religion, even preachers, is not generally thought of. I also think this poem almost takes place from a preacher's pulpit- the language is firey and the poem is meant to inspire zealousy among kids and to enervate them to action. By calling out money-loving preachers, Hughes manages to usurp their role as youth-leaders and instead place himself, and perhaps poetry from the Harlem Renaissance, in the place of guiding youths instead. -Lance Hayden ▲
5. The metaphor of the "kids who die" is essential to the theme of the poem. On first read, I thought that this mean the kids who were black, and yet on a closer read I realized that these kids are all the people who support the Civil Rights movement. The speaker mentions the "gentlemen with Dr. in front of their names" as well as clergy and other types of distinguished careers that those who possess are doing so because they are trying to go against the thoughts and ideals of the Civil Rights movement. Therefore, these "kids who die" are all used as examples against the movement and are beaten, murdered, and looked down upon within the community. These fighters of the movement also are not content with the way things are currently, and instead are continuing to fight even with the harsh backlash from the community. Alyssa Perez ▲
6. The image of iron is a very unique one as iron is a substance that has special features. Iron is good in the body in small doses, but if too much iron is taken in, it can lead to disease and death later in life. Iron is widely viewed as a strong substance and often associated with the heart --- “an iron heart.” Hughes writes that he does not want the rich to “taste the iron of the kids who die” because this would allow the oppressed “people” to “get wise to their own power.” The strength of iron in the hearts of those oppressed is a dangerous weapon that those in power do not want to be widely understood; for their corruption and power could be taken from them. -Michael Solomon ▲
7. The structure of the poem is interesting in that the first two stanzas are an explanation of the situation for these "kids who die" (line 1), and then at the beginning of the third stanza there is a change in the perceived audience. The first two stanzas highlight the groups of people and their tribulations; essentially Hughes is describing the disparity between rich white people and poor African Americans. However, in line 37 the speaker changes the listener specifically to the kids themselves; "Listen, kids who die-." This call is used to emphasize the message of hope for equality that is inherent to the poem, but explicitly emerges at the end of the third stanza; "But the day will come-….And black hands and white hands clasped as one" (lines 43, 48). ▲
8. In the line that Hughes says "there will be no monument for you," reminds me of Natasha Trethewey. She too writes about people who do not have a monument: the native guard and her mother's grave. I believe this is significant, because maybe Trethewey was influenced by Hughes poem as they both include aspects of African Americans in their writing. In addition to this parallel, I felt that the following line, "maybe your bodies'll be lost in a swamp" parallels Seamus Heaney's bog poems. Both authors are writing about dead bodies that stand for history, which are lost in a geographical feature. I think both of these parallels are important to understanding poetry, because it helps the reader take a different but similar perspective to each of the writings. ▲
9. I find it interesting that Hughes mentions Liebknecht in his work, but it seems fitting in certain ways. Liebknecht was killed and his body left without identification. The kids who die fighting for their causes, for civil rights and freedom, are also dying unidentified. They do not have a monument to their work other than people's memories and knowledge. Angelo Herndon, too, was arrested in his fight for his beliefs and convictions, particularly for insurrection. While I see why Hughes would allude to people fighting for change, I am not sure why he chooses Liebknecht and Herndon, because the former is associated with socialism and the latter with communism. I am not sure how these political ideologies fit in with the issue of children dying as they fight for a cause. Diana Fridlyand. ▲
10. One thing I found interesting is his inclusion of both blacks and whites. He did not write of blacks overcoming whites but of them uniting. He seems to take more of a stance of equality whereas other writers and activists have wanted blacks to over-power whites. Greg Irons ▲