Original PromptI want to do a background building activity for the poems words like freedom by langston hughes and a voice by pat mara. poetry is so interpretive that I want to make sure that when we read it together as a class, students have a better understanding of the context these poems were written from.
This learning resource focuses on the influence of historical and cultural contexts on the personal expression of freedom in poetry. It highlights the Harlem Renaissance, a pivotal cultural movement in the 1920s when African American arts flourished, allowing poets like Langston Hughes to explore unique perspectives on freedom. The resource also examines the impact of the US-Mexico borderlands and how the shifting territorial changes during the Mexican-American War shaped identities and expressions in poetry, particularly through the works of poets such as Pat Mora. The document includes guided inquiry questions for both whole-class discussions and small-group interactions, encouraging students to analyze the emotional and historical significance behind the artists' expressions.