“Freedom’s Plow” The United States of America has always been a place where one can prosper from hard work. People from all over the world flood to America at their chance of achieving the American Dream. In America, due to its freedoms, if one works hard, there are endless possibilities one can achieve. America is a very diverse country, and has been that way since the day it was founded. However that diversity brings much hatred and racism with it. Hate crimes and prejudices has caused a problem in America since the beginning. There has always been a person who was looked down on, or not given the same opportunities as others. Langston Hughes’ “Freedom Plow”, shines light on the liberated individual fighting for agency by holding onto the metaphorical plow. The gift of life is a miracle and the birth of a child is such a beautiful thing.
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When someone comes into the world, they have nothing. In “Freedom’s Plow” it is a new beginning with an empty slate, “When a man starts out with nothing, when a man starts out with his hands, empty but clean” (Langston Hughes). As a person grows, their heart and soul is forged into who they will be. They see their potential and develop their dreams. “The eyes see there materials for building, See the difficulties, too, and the obstacles. The mind seeks a way to overcome these obstacles. The hand seeks tools to cut the wood, To till the soil, and harness the power of the waters” (Langston Hughes). Every man is born into this world the same way, and we all begin with nothing. No matter your race, color, or gender, everybody starts out with the empty slate, and the dream of doing something great. “A long time ago, but not too long ago, Ships came from across the sea, Bringing the Pilgrims and prayer-makers, Adventurers and booty seekers, Free men and indentured servants, Slave men and slave masters, all new- To a new world, America!” (Langston Hughes) America is a melting pot of just about every race, color, and ethnicity in the whole world. Many years ago, a new world was being built on a new continent. This country was not built by one race, but by many putting their nose to the dirt together and working, “Heart reaching out to heart, Hand reaching out to hand, they began to build our land” (Langston Hughes). All of the people that founded this country had a desire for freedom and agency, and yet the people who helped them build it were still enslaved. Throughout the poem there is a theme of equality, and how no one should be enslaved. The fight for freedom is a cause that many have died for. No man should have to live an enslaved life without a say, “But not so long ago at that, Lincoln said: NO MAN IS GOOD ENOUGH TO GOVERN ANOTHER MAN WITHOUT THAT OTHER’S CONSENT” (Langston Hughes) There are still people today fighting for freedom and agency, and to those people Langston Hughes is telling them to keep fighting, “Keep your hand on the plow” (Langston Hughes). He is not telling them to literally cling to a plow, but
When someone comes into the world, they have nothing. In “Freedom’s Plow” it is a new beginning with an empty slate, “When a man starts out with nothing, when a man starts out with his hands, empty but clean” (Langston Hughes). As a person grows, their heart and soul is forged into who they will be. They see their potential and develop their dreams. “The eyes see there materials for building, See the difficulties, too, and the obstacles. The mind seeks a way to overcome these obstacles. The hand seeks tools to cut the wood, To till the soil, and harness the power of the waters” (Langston Hughes). Every man is born into this world the same way, and we all begin with nothing. No matter your race, color, or gender, everybody starts out with the empty slate, and the dream of doing something great. “A long time ago, but not too long ago, Ships came from across the sea, Bringing the Pilgrims and prayer-makers, Adventurers and booty seekers, Free men and indentured servants, Slave men and slave masters, all new- To a new world, America!” (Langston Hughes) America is a melting pot of just about every race, color, and ethnicity in the whole world. Many years ago, a new world was being built on a new continent. This country was not built by one race, but by many putting their nose to the dirt together and working, “Heart reaching out to heart, Hand reaching out to hand, they began to build our land” (Langston Hughes). All of the people that founded this country had a desire for freedom and agency, and yet the people who helped them build it were still enslaved. Throughout the poem there is a theme of equality, and how no one should be enslaved. The fight for freedom is a cause that many have died for. No man should have to live an enslaved life without a say, “But not so long ago at that, Lincoln said: NO MAN IS GOOD ENOUGH TO GOVERN ANOTHER MAN WITHOUT THAT OTHER’S CONSENT” (Langston Hughes) There are still people today fighting for freedom and agency, and to those people Langston Hughes is telling them to keep fighting, “Keep your hand on the plow” (Langston Hughes). He is not telling them to literally cling to a plow, but