In your essay, please, compare these two poems from different historical periods, that formulate and express the theme of civil rights in the United States. What are the commonalities and/or differences in the themes expressed in these poems? What do the commonalities and/or differences tell us about the evolving civil rights story in the United States? Finally, what meaning do You want to put in the ‘American dream’ today? Any additional thoughts and comments you would like to include? 

 Poem 1: Langston Hughes, ‘Let America Be America Again’ (1938) 

 Poem 2: Maya Angelou, ‘On the Pulse of Morning’ (1993)