Langston Hughes’s poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” first published in 1921, is one of the most celebrated works of the Harlem Renaissance. Written when Hughes was only a teenager, the poem reflects a deep sense of historical consciousness, racial pride, and cultural identity. Through the symbolic use of rivers, Hughes connects the experience of African people and African Americans to the long history of human civilization. The poem is both personal and collective, as the speaker’s voice represents not only an individual but also the entire Black race. The central symbol of the poem is the river. Rivers are presented as ancient, life-giving, and enduring forces that have witnessed the development of civilizations. The opening line, “I’ve known rivers,” immediately establishes a connection between the speaker and these natural entities. The repetition of this statement throughout the poem reinforces the speaker’s intimate relationship with history and tradition. The rivers symbolize continuity, wisdom,