LANGSTON HUGHES
THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS
"Oceola Jones, pianist, studied under Philippe in Paris. Mrs. Dora Ellsworth paid her bills. The bills included a little apartment on the Left Bank and a grand piano. Twice a year Mrs. Ellsworth came over from New York and spent part of her time with Oceola in the little apartment. The rest of her time abroad she spent at Biarritz or Juan les Pins, where she would see the new canvases of Antonio Bas, young Spanish painter who also enjoyed the patronage of Mrs. Ellsworth. Bas and Oceola, the woman thought, both had genius. And whether they had genius or not, she loved them, and took good care of them."
Description: Revolves around black men producing Jazz and their affiliations with white people about their music. Includes violence between the two races and some appreciation as well.
Explanation: This short story showed the mix of the times and cultures of the whites and blacks.
Evaluation: This was a written evidence to show the American people what the pleasures of Jazz music brought upon America, and the clash of white’s and black’s culture during a time of segregation and hostility.
Analysis: Gave a written “show” of the life of a black man living in the times of 1920, and how he coped with the prejudice and pride of being black. The story gave the time a resounding “roaring” label to the 20’s because of the conflict.