d 1910, when whites were forcing blacks out of their neighborhoods in uptown Manhattan, the blacks began to move into Harlem. Due to racial fears, the whites in the area moved out. Between 1910 and the early 1940's, more blacks began flooding into the area from all over the world, fleeing from the racial intolerance of the South and the economic problems of the Caribbean and Latin America. Eventually Harlem became an entirely black area. However, this town once filled with much potential soon became riddled with overpopulation, exploitation, and poverty. Thus, what awaited new arrivals was not a dream; rather, it was a "dream deferred" (Harlem Today).Hughes' poem, "A Dream Deferred" in "a,b,c,d,c,e,e,g,g,g" rhyme scheme, clearly outlines his disappointment in the conditions of Harlem. The first line of this poem is, "What happens to a dream deferred?" In the case of this poem, the dream is of the promise of Harlem, and what blacks hoped to find there: opportunity, better living conditions, and freedom from racial intolerance. When blacks arrived in Harlem, though, their dream was deferred; instead of the opportunities they had envisioned, they were faced with overcrowding, exploitation, and poverty. At the beginning of this poem the mood that accompanies "a dream deferred" is a questioning one that begins a search for definition. This mood, which will develop as the poem progresses, induces the reader to reflect upon the meaning of "a dream deferred," preparing them for its development. The poem continues, listing the possible fates of a dream that never becomes reality. It suggests that maybe the dream will "Dry up like a raisin in the sun," withering up and disappearing. Maybe it will "Stink like rotten meat," becoming a sickening reminder of what will never be. Perhaps the dream will "Crust and sugar over." Hughes seems to be saying here that the dream deferred might be covered up by society with a veil of normalcy. The most power...
