In "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," the speaker is an individual very much like the poet because he feels intimately connected to a long lineage and shared history.
In "Refugee in America," the speaker functions as a communal voice by amplifying the collective struggles and aspirations of the displaced people.
Where the poet is an individual
In "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," details like "I've known rivers ancient as the world begun" and "My soul has grown deep like the rivers" indicate a personal immersion in the collective story of Black people.
In "Refugee in America," the speaker represents a broader group of displaced individuals by using "we" and "us" frequently. Some examples are: "We are tired, tired of our own shadows," and "We cry out in the streets, for life is hard to bear."
Complete Question:
The poems are, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” by Langston Hughes and “Refugee in America” by Langston Hughes.
In which of these poems do you think the speaker is an individual very much like the poet? In which is the speaker a communal voice—the voice of a people? Explain your reasoning, citing details from the poems to support your analysis.