Theme and Message
Indhold
Racism and injustice
The poem “Ballad of the Landlord” by Langston Hughes deals with the theme of racism and injustice, which is illustrated by the fate of the black tenant.
First, the theme is explored when the tenant reports some problems with the house. The tenant ironically suggests that the landlord is aware of the issues but chooses to ignore them. Besides refusing to repair the house, the landlord asks the tenant for more money and ends up calling the police, exaggerating his accusations: “He’s trying to ruin the government and overturn the land!” (ll. 23-24).
The tenant is wrongfully imprisoned, which highlights the racial discrimination present in American society. Because he is black, the tenant is denied bail and the media portrays t...
