Parents always wish to give their children a life better than they have had. While some parents can give their children that life, what do those who are unable to give them instead? Throughout time, advice has been one of the most valuable things a parent can provide their child with. In the case of Langston Hughes, this stood especially true. Due to his parents' divorce, Langston Hughes lived with his financially-troubled grandmother in Lawrence, Kansas for most of his childhood ("Langston Hughes, 1902-1967: The Poet Voice of African-Americans."). Despite her monetary troubles, she took pride in herself and her race, and often told Langston stories of his family, how they fought to end slavery, and the importance of education ("Langston Hughes, 1902-1967: The Poet Voice of African-Americans."; "Langston Hughes' Biography"). This inspired Hughes to attend college, and most notably, become a poet ("Langston Hughes' Biography"). Many of Langston Hughes's poems depict the struggle of Black Americans during his time and incorporate the positive outlook on life that his grandmother instilled in…show more content… Hughes's compared the life of the mother to that crystal stairs to illustrate her life journey and the perseverance it took her to keep moving forward. He utilized vernacular language to enhance the speaker's character and the way the theme was conveyed. Finally, he incorporated many symbols in the poem to get the theme across as well; a theme that can be attributed to Langton Hughes's grandmother. If Hughes's grandmother had not persevered through all the difficulties she faced in life, she would not have had any inspirational advice to give her grandson. Although, because she persevered, she would provide Langston Hughes with great advice that ultimately made him determined to become a famous
