Student Question

Is it significant that the questions in the poem "Harlem" have no answers?

Quick answer:

The lack of answers in "Harlem" is significant as it highlights the uncertainty and frustration surrounding the future of the dream for equality between white and Black Americans. The unanswered questions emphasize the poem's main themes, reflecting the emotional turmoil and instability experienced by the dreamer. This also serves as a warning to society about the potential consequences of ongoing racial injustice, creating a sense of doom and threat, especially for white readers in 1951.

Expert Answers

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Yes, it is certainly significant that the questions remain unanswered and that the poem ends with a question and thus with no certainties for the future. The unanswered questions are functional to the main themes of the poem. The dreamer is left with no answers as to the future of his dream which represents the hopes for equal rights between white and black Americans. This adds to the general sense of frustration. But the lack of answers also has an effect on those white readers that in 1951, when the poem was published in the collection Montage of a Dream Deferred continued to deny African Americans equal rights. This lack of answers creates a sense of doom and threat for the larger society, especially because the italicized question that closes the poem warns against the rage and violence that the frustration of living in a racist society could generate.

In addition, the six questions and the two dashes create a broken rhythm that contributes to create a sense of instability and emotional confusion.

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