“I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.”
The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes was first published n the June 1921 issue of The Crisis, the magazine of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The poem is found in The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Copyright © 1994 the Estate of Langston Hughes.
Poem: The Negro Speaks of Rivers
I’ve known rivers:
I’ve known rivers ancient
as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.
I’ve known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
About The Artist Spotlight Series
The Artist Spotlight Series explores art, artists, and the ideas behind the art illuminating and shaping our world.
The Artist Spotlight Series is an EMLab brand produced by Evan Matthew Papp and we are a proud member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network. Support media, authors, artists, historians, and journalists, who are fighting to improve the prosperity of the working class.
Follow our work at https://www.empathymedialab.com/artistspotlight.
#ArtistSpotlight
165. Mother Jones - Labor Leader Diaries
164. Former Amazon Warehouse Worker and Progressive Activist Jake Burdett
163. Labor for Palestine with Suzanne Adely and Michael Letwin
162. The Case For A New Deal 3.0 - David Riemer Author of Putting Government In Its Place
161. Robert C. Orr Dean of University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy - Policy Dialogues Ep.25
160. Grassroots Comedy DC with Chris Blackwood - EMLab Artist Profiles
159. Robert Sandoli Senior Advisor on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy
158. African Perspectives: Ako Essan Emile Shares his Experience Growing up in Cote d’Ivoire
157. Homeless Advocate Brian Carome CEO Street Sense Media - End Homelessness in Washington, D.C.
156. Behind the velvet curtains with AFI’s Todd Hitchcock - Labor Goes To The Movies
155. Author Nicole McCandless's new children’s book Down on James Street - Published by Hard Ball Press
154. American Prospect’s Robert Kuttner on Biden’s 100 Day Speech, Industrial Policy, and the Fed Reserve
153. HAYMARKET: The Bomb, The Anarchists, The Labor Struggle - Labor Goes To The Movies
152. Constructing a New Social Compact Event w/ Dr. James C. Benton - Race & Economic Empowerment Project
151. Maryland State Senator Paul Pinksy - Policy Dialogues Ep.23
150. Author Alejandra Domenzain discusses her new children’s book Para Todos For All published by Hard Ball Press - Buy Your Copy Today
149. John Sayles on Martin Eden - Labor Goes To the Movies
148. Raymond Nevo Candidate for Prince George’s County Council District 2 - Policy Dialogues Ep.22
147. Book Review: Why The New Deal Matters with author Dr. Eric Rauchway
146. Mark Street’s Film Work Songs - Labor Goes To the Movies
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free