Themes

Pride in Black Heritage and History: A major theme of “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” is the deep pride in the long history of Black people. The speaker connects his soul to ancient rivers like the Nile, Congo, Euphrates, and Mississippi. These rivers symbolize the old history, pride, and struggle of the Black civilization. Through these rivers, Hughes shows that Black people were present in the earliest human cultures. They have shared in the world’s great achievements. Even after slavery and suffering, their spirit remains strong and beautiful. The poem celebrates the dignity, endurance, and deep soul of the Black race, whose roots go back to the very beginning of human life.