The Negro Speaks of Rivers. By: Langston Hughes (2009)

The Negro Speaks of Rivers  is a poem by Langston Hughes written in 1920. It was made into a book and illustrated by E.B. Lewis in 2009. It was a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor book in 2010.

  The beautiful words of Langston Hughes create an image in your mind, but E.B Lewis’s really bring this to life. The books cover says, “Artist E.B.Lewis acts as an interpreter and visionary, using water color to pay tribute to Hughes's timeless poem, a poem that every child deserves to know”. The book is recommended for children from ages 4-8. I sat down and read it with my toddler, and while she wasn’t paying attention to the words, she was mesmerized by the pictures, and she wanted to read through it again and again. Although children of a young age can read it, I think it would be more appropriate for older readers. I would like to use it in 5-7th grades.

  Langston Hughes was born in 1902 in Joplin Missouri. He died in 1967 in New York City. He wrote the poem The Negro Speaks of Rivers, when he was 18 years old in 1920. He is one of the most famous poets/ authors of the Harlem Renaissance. He wanted to tell the stories of his (African) people in ways that reflected their actual culture including both suffering and love of music, laughter, and language. http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/83

  Earl Bradley Lewis (E.B. Lewis) was born in 1956 in Philadelphia. He illustrated more than 50 books including the 2003 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner, Talkin About Bessie, and also the 2005 Caldecott Honor for Coming On Home Soon. His amazing use of watercolor was mesmerizing in The Negro Speaks of Rivers. http://www.eblewis.com/illustration/biography.html

  I chose to highlight this book, even though it was an Honor book, not a winner, because I feel it really shows what an illustration winner would look like. The story is told though the beautiful illustrations.


Genre: Poetry, Harlem Renaissance.
Theme: Finding Symbolism. Understanding Harlem Renaissance.
Pre-Reading Activity: Have students discuss in small groups about finding symbolism and what are similes and metaphors. Have students use a simple poem to find examples of these.


Students should go through the book by  themselves, then they should listen along a few times while they read through and study the illustrations.


Post Reading Activity: Students should discuss in small groups, while teachers go from group to group: What are the rivers symbolic of? What do you think the poet, Langston Hughes was trying to say? How did you feel the first time you read this poem? Did you get more out of it after we listened to it a few times? Disscussion is important with poetry, because sharing ideas can help with understanding.


http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/vtl07.la.ws.process.rivers/