Literature has always effectively portrayed social realities in human
             life through subjective interpretation of literary writers/authors.
             Throughout history, human society has witnessed events that influenced the
             behaviors and actions of people, such as the abolition of black American
             slavery, or worldwide events such as the Vietnam War. These events have
             been illustrated into various literary forms, and each form conveys a
             different meaning/s that is/are subjectively important to the
             author/writer.
            
             "Harlem," a poem by Langston Hughes is a perfect example of a
             literary work that illustrates the social realities of human life during
             the period where Hughes composed the poem, which is in 1920s. As one of
             the main proponents of the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes contributed
             significantly to the anti-black slavery movement of his period through his
             poetry. "Harlem" embodies the historical and social situation in the
             American society in the early 20th century, where black American slavery is
             still prevalent and radical movements against black American slavery are
             starting to emerge. Harlem Renaissance is a cultural movement in American
             history where African-Americans asserted their rights through literature,
             arts, and music.
            
             This paper discusses the issue of social prejudice in the poem,
             "Harlem," where the poem not only mirrors social realities in the US in
             1920s, but also has bigger implications in my life as I struggle against
             prejudices that are still abound in the American society I live in now.
             Through examples in the poem and personal experiences from my life, the
             theme of struggle against prejudice is analyzed, particularly in the
             context of subject and message of the poem.
            
             The poem "Harlem" voices out Hughes' thoughts and feelings about the
             oppression, discrimination, and prejudice that he experiences in his
             society. As an African-American in a predominantly white American s...