“Yo Vivo” and “Theme for English B”

I believe the main message of “Theme for English B” by Hughes is that there is no actual difference when it comes to people even if their ethnic backgrounds differ, because at the end of the day everyone can still share things in common. For instance, in the poem it states “…perhaps you don’t want to be a part of me. Nor do I often want to be a part of you. But we are…” This quote from the stanza displays how even though their different races may have biases that are against each other, they can still have similarities that bring them together. Even if they may oppose one another, they are still humans that live within a community and coexist together. In Chung’s “Yo Vivo”, the main theme of this poem seems to be the fact that although one may see a place as a rundown area, many others can still consider it a luxury to even be able to live in the comfort of a community where they feel a sense of belonging. This is supported by the quote that states “…some call it a slum, some call it a home…” This quote may also support how “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” or “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” because not everyone shares the same opinions on a certain subject.

Honestly, I was surprised by the confidence of Langston Hughes to be able to actually write down that they were “teaching” their teacher through their assignment because there would still be an obvious racial opposition at the time considering how prominent discrimination was back then because of their ethnic background. This could’ve provoked a lower grade or even furthered the discrimination that their lecturer may have had for them already. Furthermore, I actually relate to how the speaker in “Yo Vivo” sometimes dislikes or likes living in Chinatown. When it comes to New York, I can see how fortunate I am to be able to live in such a diverse place where I am constantly learning new things. However, at the same time there are some distasteful experiences I’ve been through that seem to be more commonly occurring in this specific place compared to other areas, furthering my dislike for living here.