Langston Hughes "Red Silk Stockings"

I found Langston Hughes’s poem “Red Silk Stockings” to be one of his most interesting poems. In these 12 short lines, I felt there was a rather ominous double meaning that is rooted in two drastically different emotions: anger and pride. Hughes is referring to black women as the white man’s prostitute, highlighting their subordinate status as merely servants to what the white man desires, namely sexual desires, which is the most degrading form of servantry. In other words, these black women are allowed nothing better according to society, so they might as well do what the white man expects and intends for them, and let the men look at their legs. In contrast, Hughes’s words make me think that there is a sense of empowerment and pride in these African American women he is referring to. Though prostitution is considered demeaning and disreputable, his tone and language make me think that he is on their side, and justifying the women’s actions because it is true that they are beautiful, and men cannot help but look at them. Let the white men look, because black women are physically attractive, and deserving of a white man’s attention. Though Hughes describes the women as “too pretty” not to put on the red silk stockings and celebrate thier physique, the fact that the stockings are red alludes to the fact that these African American women still need to hide their true color in order to be beautiful.