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Overview
“Mother to Son” is a dramatic monologue written by Langston Hughes and first published in 1922
. The poem features a working-class Black woman who addresses her son. She reflects on the difficult circumstances of Black life in racist America, but she is resolute in her commitment to persevere. Hughes wrote the poem during the Harlem Renaissance, and it exemplifies that movement’s commitment to celebrating Black folks’ renewed sense of self, purpose, and pride.Read a summary & analysis, an analysis of the speaker, and explanations of important quotes from “Mother to Son.”
