Themes in Literature/Isolation and Community/Mother to Son

Mother to Son

A mother's eternal and unconditional love.

“Motherhood isn't just about making babies, it's about making lives and molding destinies”.   --Agu Jaachynma N.E.. 

Background of the text:

Langston Hughes was regarded as “the most prominent African American poet of the twentieth century”. In 1922 he wrote the poem “Mother to Son” which talks about a mother's life experiences that she shares with her son. She emphasizes the obstacles she has faced and motivates him to persevere. She encourages him to use her struggles as a source of strength and courage and never give up.

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A Motivational Poem about a Mother’s Resilience:  My Reflections

"Mother to Son" [1] is a dramatic monologue spoken in African American vernacular English. The Poem "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes –  in which a poor, hardworking black mother imparts advice to her young son about the struggles he will face in a segregated society where African Americans are oppressed, marginalized, and discriminated against.

“Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair/ It had tacks in it, / And splinters / And boards torn up” (2-5).

Crystal stairs are a metaphor for people who are extremely financially stable and luxurious. It symbolizes the segregation of people living in a society of color. A striking symbol used in the story was tacks and splinters to depict the hardships of a black mother living in a racially segregated community.  

The mother of the poem points out that determination will give you power through life:.

“ So boy, don’t you turn your back/ Don’t you step down on the steps/Cause you find it’s kinder hard/Don’t you fall now/For I’se still goin, honey / I’se still climbing.” (14-19).

As we travel through life's estrangement, we should have the will to be brave and courageous. There should be the will to overcome life’s challenges and not giving up is the only way to succeed in life. Despite life's ups and downs we must move onward and forward to achieve our goals in life. The journey of life is not an easy one, and we must accept life as it is to appreciate the victories along the way.  

Mothers' struggles can be very lonely and overwhelmingly exhausting, both mentally and physically.

“And sometimes going in the dark/ Where there ain’t been no light." (12-13).

The trials and tribulations of a mother can feel so lonely in times of darkness. Because a mother shielded her own problems and presented a façade of a strong woman. This was so she could carry all her responsibility to her family and most of all to her children. This often leads to isolation, as she cannot express her true feelings. This can be a burden difficult to bear and have serious implications for her mental health. It is important to support mothers in these difficult times.  

The mother emphasizes the power of resilience amidst her isolation and how it can help cope with all the hardships in life:

“But all the time/I’se been a-climbin’ on/And reachin’ landin’s/And turnin’ corners/And sometimes goin’ in the dark/Where there ain’t been no light.” (8-13).

Despite the trials she faces in life as an American African mother, she maintains a positive outlook.  It is through her example that she teaches her young son the true values of life and the courage to never give up even in the face of discrimination or segregation. She believes that these values are what will keep him going in the face of adversity, and she wants him to understand that he has the power to make a difference. She encourages him to reach for his dreams and to never be afraid to stand up for what is right.  

 

Pregnant women supporting each other.

Even though the text, is meant to illustrate the African American experience, the trail and tribulations of this mother is universal to mothers of all colors who live under a similar circumstance of hardship. We should acknowledge the fact that our children are the future of our society. It is essential that they develop the grit necessary to overcome any challenges they may face. Therefore, it is important that parents equip their children with the necessary skills, values, and attitudes that will help them become resilient and successful individuals. Parents must also provide them with the tools and resources they need to make the right decisions and succeed. Moreover, providing our children with a role model of love, kindness, and compassion is the most effective way to ensure these values are instilled.   

Glossary:

• African-American Vernacular English - is the variety of English natively spoken, particularly in urban communities, by most working- and middle-class African Americans and some Black Canadians. Having its own unique grammatical, vocabulary, and accent features, AAVE is employed by middle-class Black Americans as the more informal and casual end of a sociolinguistic continuum.
• Adversity [2] - a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune.
• Grit [3] - firmness of mind or spirit: unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger.
• Marginalized [4] - to relegate to an unimportant or powerless position within a society or group.
• Segregation [5] - the separation or isolation of a race, class, or ethnic group by enforced or voluntary residence in a restricted area, by barriers to social intercourse, by separate educational facilities, or by other discriminatory means ; the separation for special treatment or observation of individuals or items from a larger group segregation of gifted children into accelerated classes
• Tribulations [6] - distress or suffering resulting from oppression or persecution also: a trying experience

Further Reading: For better comprehension on the meaning of African-American Vernacular English:

• 1.Wikipedia contributors. “African-American Vernacular English”. . Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. An article about the meaning and ideas of a spoken English used by native African Americans.    

• 2.Wikipedia contributors. “Mother’s Day” .Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Article about Mother's Day celebrations around the world.

Recommended Reading for Segregation:

To give you a better understanding of isolation, I have included a few poems and articles. They will help you to appreciate how it feels to be isolated and to understand the complexity of emotions that come with it. I hope these resources will provide you with insight and support.

1. “What We Can Learn of History from Older African American Women Who Worked as Maids in the Deep South.”  [7]
2. “My People” [8] a poem by Langston Hughes
3. " I, Too " [9] a poem Langston Hughes

Love letter: A Mother’s Day Project

Love with pen and paper.

Mother's Day is a very special occasion, and we want our kids to know we love and care for them. So, every year on this incredibly special and memorable occasion, I want you to write something special for your baby, kid, and children. This is even if they are grown up and have their own family. Easy but wait, here’s the catch! It is recommended that all mail be handwritten; the content of your letter can be anything from the lyrics to poems to short stories to anything you wish to express. If you have difficulty writing, no worries you can leave a personal voice message, a voice message of you reading a poem, or a voice message singing a few lines of your favorite song or saying something funny or cringe jokes and whatever you want to say to your kids. And every 5,10,15 years ask your children who saved the most letters or voice messages, and whoever saved the most gets a reward or the loser gets a sanctioned, like taking a family photo wearing matching ugly sweaters or treating the family to a dinner, or anything the whole family decides. Best of luck!

References:

• https://owlcation.com/humanities/Analysis-of-Poem-Mother-To-Son-by-Langston-Hughes

• Butler, Robert. “Langston Hughes: A Biography.” African American Review, vol. 40, no. 2, Summer 2006, pp. 386–87. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com

• Filmer, Alice Ashton. “African-American Vernacular English: Ethics, Ideology, and Pedagogy in the Conflict between Identity and Power.” World Englishes, vol. 22, no. 3, Aug. 2003, pp. 253–70. EBSCOhost

• VAN WORMER, KATHERINE, et al. “What We Can Learn of History from Older African American Women Who Worked as Maids in the Deep South.” Western Journal of Black Studies, vol. 37, no. 4, Winter 2013, pp. 227–35. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com