Langston Hughes’ “Ballad of the Landlord”: Analysis of Racial Injustice
Ballad of the Landlord (Langston Hughes)
1. Literal Comprehension
This poem is a ballad that depicts racial discrimination between white and Black people in America. The writer is a Black tenant living in the house of a cruel white landlord. The house is in poor condition, but the landlord demands expensive rent. The tenant complains about the leaking roof and broken steps. He wonders why the landlord does not fall while coming up. The landlord ignores the complaint. He forces the tenant to pay the rent plus ten dollars (bucks) that he owes. The tenant refuses to pay the money until the house is repaired. The landlord then threatens the tenant, stating he will get eviction orders, throw the furniture into the street, kick him out, cut off the heat, and so on. The tenant claims there is no justice and that the landlord cannot do all that. The landlord gets angrier. He calls the police to arrest the Black tenant. He even threatens to blame him as a traitor. The Black tenant is very much afraid. He imagines that the police come whistling, with a patrol bell, and arrest him. He thinks he will be taken into an iron cell and will rot there. In the papers, there will be big news with black headlines:
- “Man Threatens Landlord”
- “Tenant Held No Bail”
- “Judge Gives Black Man Ninety Days in County Jail”
2. Interpretation and Themes
In “Ballad of the Landlord,” the Black American poet Langston Hughes presents a realistic picture of the racial discrimination between Black and white people in the U.S.A. The powerful poem serves as an indictment of color discrimination in America. The title of the poem is highly ironical; it highlights the foolishness and insensitivity of the landlord.
The landlord represents the white race, and the tenant represents the Black community. Thus, the poem functions as a protest by Black people against white oppression. The protest and irony are mainly directed at mocking the supposed racial and communal equality in America. The poem advocates for the removal of racial discrimination and other inequalities between white and Black people. The poem shows that even the media and laws are not in favor of Black people, as the tenant imagines he will be arrested and jailed simply for threatening the landlord.
In this way, the poem appeals for the rights and freedom of Black people. The inhuman behavior toward the tenant shows that some people regard others as less than human. Thus, the central theme of the poem is the necessity of achieving equality among all people:
- Rich or poor
- Black or white
- Capable or incapable
- Haves or have-nots
3. Critical Analysis and Questions
Though the poem presents the domination, suppression, and exploitation of Black people by white society, some ideas presented may seem less convincing. This raises several critical questions:
- Are we ready to accept so easily the existence of such profound social injustice in a highly democratic country?
- Are the police and courts truly so biased?
- Does the press truly support the landlord instead of the tenant?
4. Personal Assimilation of Themes
In my neighborhood, most Brahmins are conservative. They create a lot of difficulties. I rented a room after considerable effort, and there was a good water supply. Neighbors often came to fill their pots. One morning I woke up early. I was brushing my teeth when a lady came and placed the pipe in her pot. By chance, the pipe touched me. She shouted at me as if I were an animal. I had a very bitter experience of the event. This incident reflects how the caste system continues to socially dominate the people of my country.