August Wilson’s writing built upon a tradition of writers expressing views on and illustrating the realities of racism and racist ideals within America. In the poem, “Mother to Son,” (published in 1922), Langston Hughes’ speaker, a mother, metaphorically expresses the struggles she has faced. Through her voice, the reader can infer aspects of her life along with her feelings for her son. In the poem, Hughes uses the central metaphor of a staircase.
Before reading the poem, use the reading strategy of making predictions.
Questions to answer:
How might a staircase represent a life someone has lived?
What might each step represent?
Now, use the reading strategy of connecting to the ideas in the reading. Look at these images -- which one appeals to you more?
How might each symbolize some part of your life? What about for you? What kind of staircase are you climbing? Is it steep? Is it shiny? Is anyone or anything helping you? Is it an escalator?
After reading the poem, you will be analyzing its theme and then taking a quiz on it. You should use the poetry analysis information provided during and/or after you read.
Read along while you listen to an audio recording of the poem. Viola Davis (who plays Rose in Fences).
"Mother to Son" BY LANGSTON HUGHES
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now—
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
Remember that one of a poem’s functions can be illustrating an emotion and/or political view. This poem seems to do some of each. Here is a link to a graphic organizer and tool that can help you find meaning in poems. Here is a link to a poetry glossary to help you identify Hughes’ techniques.
Using these resources to think about the poem in depth will help you with the assessment that follows.
When you have finished reading, and you have reviewed the notes page linked above, take the reading quiz on Schoology. Record your score on your assignment sheet.
Before reading the poem, use the reading strategy of making predictions. 
