Analysis of Bop (Langston Hughes)

In the short essay Bop, Langston Hughes writes about a dialogue that takes place between two characters about Be-Bop in order to display discrimination against black people. Langston Hughes was an African American author and poet who stressed the importance of racial inequality throughout his lifetime. His essay is set during the mid-20th century when racial discrimination, especially against African American people, was running rampant. In order to show this discrimination to people that are unaware of it, Hughes utilizes allusions through the idea of police beatings, which occur simply, “for being colored,” (191). In reference to Be-Bop music, the character Simple states, “You must not know where Bop comes from [...] From the police beating Negroes’ heads,” (191). In the statement, Hughes uses the apparent origins of Be-Bop music to bring light to the greater issue at hand, which is the brutality that black people had to face from the police during this time period. He also uses onomatopoeia to further explain the intensity of the beatings that the people had to endure, writing, “Every time a cop hits a Negro with his billy club, the old club says, ‘BOP! BOP! … BE-BOP! … MOP! … BOP!’” (191). Through the addition of the sounds created by the beatings, the author is able to force the reader to create a vivid image within their mind in order to show how brutal these attacks were. The inclusion of these strategies allow for Hughes to convey his purpose with great ease. After reading the essay, I have obtained a greater understanding of the struggles that black people had to face during this time and how these issues truly affected them as a community. Through Bop, Langston Hughes paints a very clear picture to show how discrimination from society ultimately can significantly alter and shape culture.


Police Beating Young Male - The police would often beat black people "just for being colored."
Source: http://www.chocolatmag.us/uncategorized/the-law-is-not-the-law/