TOW #3 - Bop

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In "Bop," author Langston Hughes addresses the issue of racial inequality of the mid-1900's through his revelation of the true origin of bop music. He writes to raise awareness of white oppression to have his audience reflect upon their past, and is supported by his use of illusions, onomatopoeias, and repetition. The story takes place on the day of Sabbath, a day typically dedicated to religious observation and abstinence from work. Ironically Simple, who plays the role of a teacher, is portrayed loudly playing his bop music. This allusion between religion and bop music helps to emphasize his opinions towards the African culture and of white oppression. When the author innocently asks about the origins of bop music, Simple states, “From the police beating Negroes’ heads...Bop! Bop! Bop!” (191).  This explains why he goes on to say “‘That’s why so many white folks don’t dig Bop’” (191). Although Simple says this quite simplistically as if it's ‘not a big deal,’ as his name suggests, the reader can easily grasp how tense this time period was between races and the struggle of being black.

In addition to the visual he helps to create of white oppression of the 1950’s, the onomatopoeia of the word “bop” shows the significance of racial inequality of the time, and how it continues to be prevalent through time: so much that they named a genre of music after it. Repetition continues to appear in Hughes’ essay, like when Simple discusses racial discrimination “just for being colored” by people who felt entitled “just for being white” (191). The emphasis put on ‘just’ shows how insignificant race should be in contrast to the harsh reality of cruel racial discrimination. Hughes repetitive usage of “nonsense” suggests the ridiculousness of this issue of race, but also the strength of the black community who can brush of white-supremacy acts with a short, stern “nonsense!” (1910). The rhetorical devices utilized in Hughes’ essay help to suggest the contrasting significance of the racial inequality of the mid-1900’s with the ridiculousness of its foundation. Through this short dialogue, the audience becomes enlightened about the struggles and strength of black people, calling for an action to stop the stupidity.