Hughes penned this poem when he was just 17 years old. Written on his way to visit his father, the work both summarizes the experience of the young, the struggle of African Americans across the span of time. Hughes uses famous locations of African civilizations as a reminder of the proud history of black people in America. Exasperated but not undone, Hughes’ poem is a tribute to those who have come before and an unspoken pledge to transcend time and circumstances.
