Another brilliant poet from history, Langston Hughes crafted such beautiful work. This one evokes, for me, so much of the painfully brutal elements of the African American journey.
Today’s Black History Month Poet: Langston Hughes
poetry, prose, and photography
Another brilliant poet from history, Langston Hughes crafted such beautiful work. This one evokes, for me, so much of the painfully brutal elements of the African American journey.
Carl Setzer: Word Shaper 
The full poem is important for understanding Langston Hughes as well as honoring his work, so here it is:
Song For A Dark Girl
Way Down South in Dixie
(Break the heart of me)
They hung my black young lover
To a cross roads tree.
Way Down South in Dixie
(Bruised body high in air)
I asked the white Lord Jesus
What was the use of prayer.
Way Down South in Dixie
(Break the heart of me)
Love is a naked shadow
On a gnarled and naked tree.
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And the poem may be filled out all the more by listening to Strange Fruit sung by Bilie Holiday:
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Thank for sharing and adding to the poem. I’ll give Strange Fruit a listen shortly.
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You’re welcome, Carl. But I am not adding to the poem. I simply provided the full poem which matters. The full context matters. Have you never listened to Billie’s “Strange Fruit” before? I think U will find it truly profound. I believe it was a white jewish man who wrote the lyrics… but please don’t quote me on that. I need to fact check that. But it’s her voice and version of the song that seems to both haunt and live on in order to express the horror. Langston Hughes was pointing out the white supremacy he lived thru… not so much his true love… in his poems and your black history NEEDS to reflect that truth. U gotta show the whole poem to speak to it. “White Jesus” is not all inclusive… even if Jesus is Love, right? Talk about Langston Hughes for reals. Give him the credit he id due.
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You added to my little intro with great insight. I appreciate how much there is to learn in this world. You brought me further on that journey, which is gracious gift.
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That is a sweet thing to say to me Carl. Thanks for embarking on such a “journey.” Thanks for your post and taking the time with me.
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My pleasure!
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Hi Carl… and if it is about his true love, she’s been lynched. That’s what strange fruit is. That’s what tree Langston is talking about. So where is white Jesus in that? Makes the black man and black woman Jesus too. It’s the same hanging. And that’s a profound love song. That’s a profound love poem. But it’s about living thru white supremacy and slavery and segregation and jim crow. Thanks for taking my comments.
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Thanks for leaving your comments. Wise and thoughtful ones at that.
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Thanks for allowing my comments on your site. I appreciate your forum.
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