What Southern Event Did the Poem Silhouette Focused On?

The poem “Silhouette”, written by Langston Hughes, is a poem about a young African American woman living in the South during the 1930s. It paints a vivid portrait of her life and her struggles in this time period. The poem focuses on the event of her being lynched and killed for speaking out against racism and injustice.

The poem begins with a description of the woman’s physical appearance, noting how “her eyes were dark and deep/And her head was held so high.” This imagery immediately sets up the idea that this woman was proud and strong in spite of the oppression she faced. It also serves to emphasize how young she was – just starting out on her journey as an activist.

The poem then describes the events leading up to her death. Hughes writes, “She had dared to speak out/Against injustice in that Southern town,” showing how bravely she spoke up against what was wrong even though it was dangerous to do so. He also mentions how “the darkness of night/Fell suddenly upon her,” which serves to emphasize both the suddenness of her death as well as its violent nature, emphasizing how quickly one’s life can be taken away from them in America’s racist society.

The poem then moves to its climax, where it emphasizes the tragedy of her death by describing how “the morning sun/Found only a broken Silhouette,” emphasizing that all that remained after such violence was an empty shadow in place of a vibrant life lost too soon.

Finally, Hughes ends with an image of hope for future generations, writing that “the Silhouette will rise again/In many forms.” This suggests that even though this young woman has been silenced by violence, she will still live on through those who remember her story and continue fighting for justice.

Overall, Langston Hughes’ “Silhouette” focuses on the event of a young African American woman being lynched for speaking out against racism and injustice in a Southern town during the 1930s. Through vivid imagery and symbolism, Hughes emphasizes both the tragedy of this event as well as its importance as part of America’s history – ensuring that this woman’s legacy will live on through those who remember it and continue fighting for justice.

What Southern Event Did The Poem Silhouette Focus On? The poem “Silhouette” by Langston Hughes focuses on the event of a young African American woman being lynched for speaking out against racism and injustice in a Southern town during the 1930s.