Continuing The Conversation: The Challenge

Over at Dan's blog, he challenged me to speak about Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance.  He got his panties in a wad after I stated that Hughes' poem, like MLK JR's speech of a previous post, were not relevant to the situation of race relations today.  I stand by that while he and his troll do nothing to defend the contrary opinion.  Like most on their side of the divide today, any disagreement, question, critique or objection to anything said by, or in defense of, the black community is racist. 

In any case, I decided to take up the challenge he laid before me in the comments section following the post in question.  Because Dan is not an honorable boy and can't be trusted to actually engage on an intellectual level (or what passes for one in his fevered imaginings), I must also post my response to him here.  Between the two of us, we haven't much of a blog following.  But by posting my response here, everyone will know that I did my part.  Should he choose not to engage, I will have further reason to believe his kids were most likely the result of a sperm donation because he clearly has no balls.  So what follows is my response, and despite it wasn't exactly how I wanted my next post to go, it does cover some of what I wanted to say in it.

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The Harlem Renaissance was a time when black and white Americans alike “discovered” the vibrancy and uniqueness of black art, music, and especially, literature.  Large numbers of black artists could earn their livings and be critically acknowledged in their fields.  The distinction of black cultural heritage and its manifestation was in vogue during this period.  There was a strong communist influence among the Black intelligensia in this area (though it certainly wasn't unheard of in America in general at that time---Woodrow Wilson was a far left "progressive" after all).  And along with the proliferation of the N.A.A.C.P.  and the Urban League (begun in the 1910's), there was also a proliferation of licentiousness, with cabarets for homosexuals and transvestites common in its nightlife (which no doubt attracts Dan even more). 

"Good God have mercy on your poor, pitiful damned soul."

You shouldn't pray to the God for Whom you have no true devotion, and certainly not after presuming you can do His job.

But from the above arrogance, you go on to make your demands, as if they change the point.  Nonetheless, here we go:

"THEN, apologize for your various comments and maybe you can comment here and try to offer something rational, rather than something ignorant."

Until you find spine enough to demonstrate in what way my comments are ignorant or irrational...which means something more than simply asserting such because you don't like and can't counter what I say...then my comments are neither. 

"Their words ARE relevant. Of course. Just ask and listen to black people and other rational people."

Again, just saying someone agrees with you doesn't make it so.  An actual argument in defense of the proposition might.  Give it a try.  My argument is coming below. 

"That you want to pretend that their words are not still relevant because racism has been "solved" and things are all better now, does not make it so."

Not in the least an accurate reflection of anything I've ever said, here or elsehwere. 

"I'll give you ONE chance to give a review on the whole poem and tell me what you think it means."

It's no mystery.  In nutshell, it's simply saying what others have said and continue to say, which is that the ideals of American...the intention of what America was meant to be...haven't been realized.  Not at all a unique sentiment.  Most anyone can say it and not be wrong, except by doing so it demands a perfection the speaker himself hasn't attained, either.  But of course, despite Hughers mostly speaking as a black man, the poem doesn't speak only on behalf of the black community.  Like the typical leftist...and he was a socialist for sure, if not a full on communist...he was a social justice warrior and speaks for that cause with this poem.  Again, no mystery here.

"Why is this poem still so relevant and powerful today?"

This question is problematic.  It assumes I find it either.  I'm not sure you could find a majority of black people today even know who the guy is, much less know of this particular poem.  Certainly YOU find it both, yet you have to ignore the many advances in race relations (and other areas of American life) in order for it to be "still so relevant".  I'm sure you have no problem doing that.  Powerful and relevant for whom?   I mean besides yourself and other socialists?  The America of today is not the America of Hughes' time.  The conditions for the black community is not at all the same now as then.  I doubt that Hughes, like King, would not wonder what the hell the typical black activist is whining about.

"What makes it a classic poem?"

Again, "classic" to whom?  Certainly to social justice warriors, poets, perhaps and no doubt those among the leftist black variety.  But like those who influenced him as a writer and poet, his preference for "speaking normally" or in the character of the average person made him stand out and accessable.  It spoke to the conditions of the time from the perspective of a black leftist. 

"Do you think that it was ever a relevant poem, or was Hughes way off in his assessment of US history?"

Most poems are relevant to somebody.  This one was likely relevant to other leftists of his day more than to others who weren't leftists.  Like similar works of all eras, it was certainly worthless to those who took a rosier view of life and/or America...that is, those who are honest enough to acknowledge American isn't perfect, but still honestly recognize what it was meant to be, was at the time, and what it can be.  The thing is, here was a guy who lived during a time when racism was far more prevalent and blatant, and he earned his living doing what he loved to do.  Yet, poems like this are his whining about how bad a place American is.  He had none of the MANY advantages available to black people today, and STILL succeeded tremendously...writing poems!!! (among other things of course)  That would suggest his assessment, as indicated by this poem, is a bit off.

" Show me that you're not coming from a place of ignorance on Hughes..."

It's typical that you regard disagreement with you as "coming from a place of ignorance", as if you're opinions and position come from a place of great wisdom.  You don't feel the need to back up that attitude because that would take effort and and actual argument that is coherent and fact-based.  You want to believe that I've never heard of the guy simply because I don't hold him in the same high regard as you, especially in your bulshit pro-BLM, "Art's a racist" mode.   The fact is that I wouldn't need to know who he was to have an opinion of his work and whether or not it is relevant to today.  Unlike you, I can defend my opinion.

"...on what basis would we consider your crazy hunches that it's no longer relevant to be relevant?"

On the basis I mentioned already.  The conditions now are far improved over what the conditions were back in the days of either Hughes or King.  Of this there is no debate.  What lies at the heart of current whining is the false excuse of "racism", not a true "systemic" racism or even the blatant, widespread racism of their time.  If this were not true, how can test scores for black students of Harlem in the 1930 be equal to and sometime better than whites of nearby schools?  How could most black children be familiar with their fathers, since they were still living at home with Ma?  How could the out-of-wedlock childbirth rate be better than whites?  Yet today, none of this is the case in an America with FAR less racism (most whites bending over backwards to avoid having anyone think they're racist), equal opportunity laws, affirmative action, welfare up the wahzoo, and a host of other "legs up" available BECAUSE one is black.  And you want to tell me this poem is still relevant today?  That the King speech you posted is still relevant today?  Tell me how.

Now go ahead and delete this you pathetic, lying coward.  It's far easier than "listening" or having a conversation you pretend to want to have with those who reject the BLM, white guilt, white privilege bullshit narrative.