POEM
You and your whole race.
You and your whole race.
Look down upon the town in which you live
And be ashamed.
Look down upon white folks
And upon yourselves
And be ashamed
That such supine poverty exists there,
That such stupid ignorance breeds children there
Behind such humble shelters of despair—
That you yourselves have not the sense to care
Nor the manhood to stand up and say
I dare you to come one step nearer, evil world,
With your hands of greed seeking to touch my throat, I dare you to come one step nearer me:
When you can say that
you will be free!
Source: Poetry (January 2009).
This poem originally appeared in the January 2009 issue of Poetry.
BUY THIS ISSUE »
Langston Hughes was first recognized as an important literary figure during the 1920s, a . . . MORE »
