For all the dreams we’ve dreamed And all the songs…

For all the dreams we’ve dreamed
And all the songs we’ve sung
And all the hopes we’ve held
And all the flags we’ve hung,
The millions who have nothing for our pay —
Except the dream that’s almost dead today.

Sourced, Let America Be America Again, from A New Song (1938)

Other Langston Hughes Quotes

The night is beautiful,
So are the faces of my people. - View Quote Details on The night is beautiful,
So are the faces of my people.
When you turn the corner
And you run into yourself
Then you know that you have turned
All the corners that are left. - View Quote Details on When you turn the corner
And you run into yourself…
O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath —
America will be! - View Quote Details on O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America…
What happens
to a dream deferred?
Daddy, ain’t you heard? - View Quote Details on What happens
to a dream deferred?
Daddy, ain’t you…
You talk like they
don’t kick dreams
around downtown. - View Quote Details on You talk like they
don’t kick dreams
around downtown.
Love is a naked shadow
On a gnarled and naked tree. - View Quote Details on Love is a naked shadow
On a gnarled and naked tree.
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode? - View Quote Details on What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up…
Dream within a dream,
Our dream deferred.
Good morning, daddy!
Ain’t you heard? - View Quote Details on Dream within a dream,
Our dream deferred.
Good morning, daddy!…
Negroes — Sweet and docile, Meek, humble, and kind: Beware the day — They change their mind. - View Quote Details on Negroes — Sweet and docile, Meek, humble, and kind: Beware…
We Negro writers, just by being black, have been on the blacklist all our lives… Censorship for us begins at the color line. - View Quote Details on We Negro writers, just by being black, have been on…