Running Head: ANALYTICAL ESSAY DRAFT 1 The poem "Juke Box Love Song" written by Langston Hughes is much more than just a
poem. This writing is a direct representation of the culture and attitude of the Harlem
Renaissance period. Hughes captures all of the liveliness and soul of Harlem during this era. It
tells how much love he had for Harlem (through his words). While some may think this piece is
merely about a woman, Hughes took it much deeper. Negro heritage and history are explored
and are present themes that Hughes is embodying. There are a number of aspects of black
culture throughout the poem. The Harlem Renaissance not only paved the way for all African
American artists, but it also started a movement that would forever alter the role of blacks in
music and arts.
The Harlem Renaissance did not merely introduce white people to African American
music and writing; it also motivated some of them to get involved in helping with the cause. The
Harlem Renaissance" provided a rare opportunity for whites to collaborate with black
intellectuals, social activists, educators, and artists in an attempt to transform a largely segregated
and racist American society” (Loessy, 2014).
The movements and discussions that were occurring during this period helped both ethnic
groups get to know and understand one another. Many white elitists were attending or opening
clubs just to hear this new music or to view their performances. At the same time, there were
also those who believe in creating a better more equal world. “The National Urban League
(NUL) counseled many black migrants from the South, trained black social workers, and worked
to give educational and employment opportunities to blacks” (Loessy, 2014).
During the Harlem Renaissance, many groups and organizations knew that jobs and
opportunities were at its peak. Such as the NUL, these groups and organizations would reach out
to the South because they knew that the African American population there had very little or no ANALYTICAL ESSAY DRAFT 2 educational and job experiences to help further their opportunities of a better life. By providing
training to blacks, they hoped to equalize the broken and obviously biased system that had been
in place since the time their ancestors were brought here and forced into a life of slavery and
bondage.
Hughes uses repetition throughout the poem to get his point across truly. Exact
repetitions include “take the” three times, “Harlem” three times, “you” three times, “dance”
twice, and “dance with” twice as well. The strands used in the piece include the words
“heartbeat,” “drumbeat,” and “record.” Night and day and take and make are the binaries within
the poem. The most significant of each category are as follows: Exact repetition- Harlem,
strands-Heartbeat and drumbeat, and binaries-take and make.
In my analysis, I feel that the binary opposite pair "take" and "make" are the most central
to aiding my comprehension of the poem. In the case of Langston Hughes, he is asking his
Harlem girl to take one thing and turn it into another when he states "'Take' the neon lights and
'make' a crown" and also in "'Take' Harlem's heartbeat, 'make' a drumbeat." To take something is
to remove it and to make something is to create and therefore add to it. In essence, this poem
explains how most music and art is made.
Some feel that this poem is actually about a woman or girl. It really may depend on the
reader. This poem not only embodies the city of Harlem, but it also portrays Hughes’ affection
and love for the spirit of the African American arts, artists, and culture in the city of Harlem.
Reading this piece makes it very evident how deeply Hughes feels about the subject matter, be it
a woman or Harlem itself. By embodying all that Harlem symbolizes for him, Hughes appears to
be glorifying his culture and the vitality of Harlem. It is as if he is presenting it to someone,
perhaps an outsider, or someone not caught up in it all. It is almost as if Hughes is trying to ANALYTICAL ESSAY DRAFT
teach the reader how to cherish all of the beauty and life of Harlem. The Harlem Renaissance
not only paved the way for all African American artists, but it also started a movement that
would forever alter the role of blacks in music and arts. 3 ANALYTICAL ESSAY DRAFT 4
References Loessy, J. D. (2014, February 11). Celebrating Black History Month - Harlem Renaissance. Retrieved
from http://www.princeton.edu/africanamericanstudies/news/archive/?id=9589
Rosenwasser, D., & Stephen, J. (2014). Langston Hughes in Writing analytically with readings (3rd ed.).
Boston, MA: Cengage.

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