Poetry Response to Langston Hughes' Democracy

Democracy

Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Nor ever
Through compromise and fear.

I have as much right
As the other fellow has
To stand
On my two feet
And own the land.

I tire so of hearing people say,
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when I'm dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.

Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need

I live here, too.
I want freedom
Just as you.

"Democrary by Langston Hughes." Poem Hunter. 14 Nov. 2007. 14 Nov. 2007 .

9. Explain the meaning of the title.

I have read this poem many times, repeatedly glancing back at the title, more than a little bewildered. According to Langston Hughes “democracy” is the action of standing up for what you believe is right. Democracy through his eyes emphasizes equality between black and white Americans, and more specifically, the freedom of blacks in America. When Hughes says, “I do not need my freedom when I’m dead. I cannot live on tomorrow’s bread”, he makes it clear that when he thinks of democracy, he thinks of equality and having it right now, not relying for it to possibly happen in the future.

I do not disagree with Hughes; however the world I live in defines “democracy” quite differently from Hughes. To me, democracy seems to have become about voting and making compromises in attempt to satisfy as many people as possible, for one sole purpose: popularity. I do not see that our democracy encourages people to take a stand, the way Hughes sees it. While he says he has just as much of a right to “stand on [his] two feet and own the land”, he looks to democracy as his means to access freedom. I look at democracy as not standing up for anything, but rather supporting as many conflicting views as possible to so you can appear to be the most popular candidate or the one who is friends with everyone. Perhaps the disconnect between my experience of democracy and Hughes’ definition is that the though battle for right to vote has been won, the value of our votes has been undermined by the influence of money and marketing in the democratic process.