One of Langston Hughes' earliest poems, "Mother to Son" is a piece of empowerment in the form of a conversation between a mother and her child. Her own upbringing and traumatic experiences allow her to instill words of wisdom in her son as he begins his journey. “Mother to Son” successfully acknowledges the inequality of opportunity in America as well as the struggles one can face while trying to live the American dream. Langston Hughes uses diction, metaphor, and imagery to tell the story of a woman for whom opportunities were tight, but who nevertheless persevered. In “Mother to Son,” Hughes reveals through his diction that perseverance is the key to life despite the odds. you could be treated. When the mother says "I'm going," "I'm leaving," and "landing," her dialect is revealed. These words, which are not written in standard English, help us characterize the speaker and reveal information about her level of education. It is obvious that she did not have the opportunity to be educated as well as others. She continues by saying, “For I always go, darling” (18), emphasizing that it was indeed her duty to continue moving forward despite the circumstances. Beyond her level of education, when the mother describes her living conditions as being consumed by darkness and torn boards, her socio-economic status is presented. Maybe she lives in poverty, in some sort of building where African Americans resided. Without a doubt, the featured mother makes it clear that her living conditions were certainly neither ideal nor comfortable. However, it is evident that she refused to become a nihilist and instead understood that because things around her were not changing, she must first change her way of thinking. Hughes begins... middle of paper... ...other conflicts. The mother in the poem represents the many generations of African Americans for whom opportunities were few, who endured pain, who had troubled pasts, and who had every reason to give up. The life of Africans “has not been a crystal staircase” since the dawn of time. From slavery to the present day, they have simply progressed in the hope of upward mobility. Langston Hughes successfully recognizes the mindset of those who have gone through difficulties and found it easier to give up, while remaining strong. “From Mother to Son” teaches a valuable lesson to all who encounter difficulties, reminding them to never give up. On the path of life you will encounter trials and tribulations, but it teaches us that we can and will overcome such things, because pain is temporary and there is a way out of it..