James langston hughes is an outstanding black poet, novelist and playwright in modern America. He is one of the representative writers of "harlem renaissance" and is known as "Poet Laureate of Harlem" and "Spokesman of Black People". Black Man Talking about the River is Hughes' first novel and his famous work.
This poem is a root-seeking song sung by Hughes, who believes in "black perfectionism", and looks back on his homeland with deep affection.
The poet used the "river" as a metaphor, recalled the indelible role of blacks in the history of human development, and expressed his pride and deep black complex as a member of blacks.