I read the excerpt from Langston Hughes autobiography and all I can think of is that feeling when you don’t know you are doing something good or bad but are doing it anyway. For example, Hughes mentions that most people haven’t even heard of the Harlem renaissance and it didn’t even matter to them because their wages didn’t go up. It was as if these people were a part of a tremendous- short lived- movement but didn’t grasp the concept that they were a part of it. This brings me to my next thought of wondering how is it possible that the “Harlem Renaissance” is brought down in history as a glorious time for colored people but as far as recollection is concerned, the colored people had no idea they were apart of it. I wonder if historians or influential people of the time simply called it a “Renaissance” or period of greatness just because it may have seemed that way to the outside few. It seems like Hughes is just portraying the fact that the white people of the time felt that they were superior and used this as some sort of entertainment scheme for themselves. For example, the colored people would change their style of writing and theatrical performances just to muse the white people whom came for entertainment. In my opinion, it sounds more like a service for these “superior” white people when in fact there shouldn’t have been any level of difference between the two colors. It saddens me to think that there are people whom somehow believe and pit themselves above others because they just “feel like it.” It is unfortunate and I wonder how this “Renaissance” would have appeared for future generations had it simply been colored people doing what they enjoy to do. It shouldn’t have been made a title for creating art when other people around the world are all doing the same exact thing- creating art.
Today is the Jewish remembrance day for the Holocaust victims of 70 years ago, it reminds me how people put themselves above others and make a big deal about even the slightest things when in fact there is no true difference beside for color of your skin, faith, or religion. 
It is always interesting to think about how differently the past would have been if there were none of these “social differences” which people believe they have the right to take into their own hands. No man is better than the other regardless of what they wear or do.
In Hughes introduction he says “the present vogue in things Negro… may do as much harm as good for the budding colored artist.” There are moments in life where you honestly believe you are doing the right thing but it will come to bite you back without some careful introspection and consideration.
