The Loft Presents: Danez Smith "Let America Be America Again"

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 29. 07. 2024
  • This fall, the Loft presents linked programming around the theme of Vigilance. Through this theme, the Loft will explore how poems and stories can bear witness, and how words can help us to hold light in the darkness.
    Here, Danez Smith performs Langston Hughes' "Let America Be America Again." Danez will perform at the Loft as part of the Vigilance series. Learn more about all the upcoming Vigilance events and classes at loft.org/vigilance.

Komentáře • 75

  • @Raven-Jomi
    @Raven-Jomi Před 4 lety +114

    Wow, It's 2020 now, and this poem is still relevant, and beautiful.

  • @dennisradford7330
    @dennisradford7330 Před 2 lety +4

    I’ve loved Langston Hughes’ poetry since 1969 when I accidentally came across an album, “Weary Blues”, among some albums donated to a U.S. Navy where I was stationed. Hughes read his poetry against the backdrop of jazz and blues played by some of the great musicians of the era. Danez Smith’s presentation is poignant and powerful-Perfect. Thank you.

    • @coraggio93
      @coraggio93 Před rokem

      Ooh, I'd love to hear that! Will search on eBay!

  • @clayd333
    @clayd333 Před 4 lety +16

    Wow... Reading A People's History of The US and it brought me to this masterpiece.. So relevant in 2020... Powerful!

  • @azazhaji3561
    @azazhaji3561 Před 6 lety +115

    At first I could not believe it was written in 1935. This poem speaks so much truth in 2017.

  • @johncraft6603
    @johncraft6603 Před 3 lety +9

    Here we are in 2020 and it is still as relevant as it was in the 1930’s. When will we make America America for all?

  • @noahjohnson634
    @noahjohnson634 Před 5 lety +30

    I read this in class and found that it was very moving for any cultural group. It uses a lot of repetition to further the point of the poem. It also compares many things using metaphors.

  • @robbiehuff7928
    @robbiehuff7928 Před 3 lety +13

    Before tonight, I had never heard this poem. I read it. I wanted to hear it. The election is 5 days away. We need change. No matter who wins, we still need progress. Progress we're still years, possibly decades, from seeing. But this poem hits home in a divided America. #BeTheChange

    • @wonderousraccoon49
      @wonderousraccoon49 Před rokem

      Now that we’ve had our president for 2 years, are you happy with how things are going? Do you think we progressed at all?

  • @TheAlmalafuente
    @TheAlmalafuente Před 4 lety +12

    This poem has always touched the deepest in me... it is painful that what Langston Hughes wrote in 1935 can still be read/heard with the same sadness today!!

  • @russpalmeri
    @russpalmeri Před 6 lety +18

    This is such a wonderful reading! I'm using it in my Humanities class. Thanks. The closed captioning isn't accurate, but the reading - wow. It's a great example of why poetry should be read aloud.

  • @rozenaxsax5133
    @rozenaxsax5133 Před 4 lety +6

    This poem could have been written in this year of tRump 2019 for all it speaks of is now not just the same but worse than when Hughes wrote it. It's not just meaningful and timely but extremely powerful because of Mr. Smith's emotion-filled reading of it. I have to say he brought tears to my eyes in both his recitation and presence. For that I thank him and am posting this on FaceBook to share it with others so it gets a wider audience than the few viewers it has had here.

  • @SylviaWongLewis
    @SylviaWongLewis Před 4 lety +8

    Thank you! Today in 2020, this poem still resonates!

  • @salmonbomb
    @salmonbomb Před 5 lety +16

    ass kicking rendition!

  • @ebriggs38
    @ebriggs38 Před 4 lety +2

    I really enjoy this. Great Job!!!!!!

  • @brycebillings9817
    @brycebillings9817 Před 3 lety +9

    who else watching the for school

  • @santasia25
    @santasia25 Před 5 lety +3

    Excellent oration. Very thought provoking and a painful reality.

  • @traiday595
    @traiday595 Před 5 lety +3

    Yes!

  • @MrRichardbenjamin
    @MrRichardbenjamin Před 4 lety +1

    Beautifully done! Excellent, thank you!

  • @alissaosbornehencey4362
    @alissaosbornehencey4362 Před 6 lety +3

    Beautiful recitation!

  • @natalie-vh2zl
    @natalie-vh2zl Před 4 lety +4

    So important today

  • @DarrylsB
    @DarrylsB Před 8 měsíci

    This is THE rendition to share! Well done!

  • @PhillipRottingham
    @PhillipRottingham Před 4 lety +3

    Outstanding!

  • @awrichards9
    @awrichards9 Před 6 lety +3

    Fantastic!

  • @gloomdoll
    @gloomdoll Před 4 lety +3

    Beautiful.

  • @user-jq2wg6vk4p
    @user-jq2wg6vk4p Před 4 lety +13

    I literally cried.

  • @dustind4694
    @dustind4694 Před 2 lety

    We all lift together.

  • @megaham
    @megaham Před 5 lety

    Beautiful and moving

  • @seuny
    @seuny Před 4 lety +5

    2:55 "to build a homeland of the free, the free. Who said the free? Not me, surely not me" 🥺♥️

  • @heatherelowe7485
    @heatherelowe7485 Před 3 lety +4

    This poem says it all. It always moves me to tears of longing for what could be...

  • @gteelm1
    @gteelm1 Před 3 lety +1

    I had this assigned for my EDLD646 course. So blessed to have found this video. Just reading it... no... I needed to feel it. TY.

  • @barnesfam
    @barnesfam Před 6 lety +5

    Great dramatic interpretation.

  • @christophervice_design
    @christophervice_design Před 4 lety +5

    AGAIN TODAY

  • @Marie_Laveau
    @Marie_Laveau Před 4 lety +1

    Still relevant! That's great literature!

  • @angelamossucco3819
    @angelamossucco3819 Před 2 lety +1

    Original Rhyme before external beats. The beat was in the phrasing the words, the artistry of the poet only. And the IDEAS. Mr. Hughes told us that WORKERS of all races should unite to "make American again." We must reinvent the reality.

  • @moonchild5021
    @moonchild5021 Před 6 lety +3

    We watched this in English

  • @BRED23
    @BRED23 Před 3 lety

    Who got the answers to this

  • @blakedixon2471
    @blakedixon2471 Před rokem +1

    Yessir

  • @PaulWelsh89
    @PaulWelsh89 Před 6 lety +2

    great job Danez

  • @valariecummings6201
    @valariecummings6201 Před 2 lety

    Excellent recitation of poem.

  • @SMHorne
    @SMHorne Před 3 lety

    Art inspired by
    LET AMERICA BE AMERICA
    Show opening:
    September 25, 2020
    2:30pm - 4:00 pm
    Zoom: us02web.zoom.us/j/86217820860
    😊

  • @Noahh4000
    @Noahh4000 Před 3 lety +5

    im only here because of school

    • @Dripbaru
      @Dripbaru Před 3 lety +2

      Ahaha found you

    • @Noahh4000
      @Noahh4000 Před 3 lety +1

      @@Dripbaru oh no

    • @rr7firefly
      @rr7firefly Před 3 lety

      By the time you are an adult you should have developed greater initiative to become an informed human being. School can only set up a framework in which you become a person who seeks answers to important questions. Good luck.

    • @melissaderouen3521
      @melissaderouen3521 Před 3 lety +4

      @@rr7firefly I’ll take a guess and say either way.... he won’t gaf.

    • @aidancohen7533
      @aidancohen7533 Před 2 lety +1

      @@melissaderouen3521 yessir

  • @huhryxn6014
    @huhryxn6014 Před rokem

    Langston Hughes said make America great again before we could

  • @PedroMartinez-bb3ze
    @PedroMartinez-bb3ze Před 3 lety +1

    Who here bc of mr gray😓

  • @wendaou7738
    @wendaou7738 Před 3 lety

    Wow amazing

  • @anthonyflowers2838
    @anthonyflowers2838 Před rokem

    Powerful

  • @alyssaesquives1287
    @alyssaesquives1287 Před 4 lety +3

    You can feel it
    the truth

  • @ammarisrar2005
    @ammarisrar2005 Před 3 lety +1

    Omg this poem is so true from the 30s when there was unjust, this is so true here today in 2020

  • @Uffda.
    @Uffda. Před rokem

    America Will Be 🇺🇸✊

  • @hoocherdog
    @hoocherdog Před 3 lety

    Let America Be America for All Americans. This is a prayer to unite America - beginning now.

  • @armchair_contrarian
    @armchair_contrarian Před 3 lety +3

    Make America Great Again

  • @Buzz_Onna_Bike
    @Buzz_Onna_Bike Před 2 lety

    bruh

  • @spyzninja4203
    @spyzninja4203 Před rokem

    Me😂

  • @kieranbrown1590
    @kieranbrown1590 Před 3 lety +2

    propaganda

  • @fbiagent132
    @fbiagent132 Před 3 lety +1

    This is so boring sleepy 😴

  • @CaptainCocaine
    @CaptainCocaine Před 6 lety +4

    Amen, brother! #MAGA

    • @TomDuncombe
      @TomDuncombe Před 5 lety +31

      Totally missed the point lol

    • @zzirremix9294
      @zzirremix9294 Před 5 lety +19

      funny how maga supporters are the ones who somehow completely get the opposite message of what the point of this was lol

    • @Dripbaru
      @Dripbaru Před 3 lety +1

      Black people have the same chance to be successful as anyone else in America.

    • @karinavazquez9893
      @karinavazquez9893 Před 3 lety +3

      you completely missed the meaning of this great poem.

    • @coraggio93
      @coraggio93 Před rokem +1

      Ah, this poem is far deeper and wider than that thin, hateful slogan.