Langston Hughes’s “Harlem” critiques the American Dream, revealing this idea as an illusion for many in
America. Why does Hughes do this in the poem and what techniques does he employ to get his message
across? Also, why is it significant that Harlem is not mentioned in the poem? This poem was written many
years after the Harlem Renaissance ended; why is this important to understanding the poem?
Link to the poem "Harlem" by Langston Hughes: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46548/harlem