cross

Cross
by Langston Hughes

My old man's a white old man
And my old mother's black.
If ever I cursed my white old man
I take my curses back.
If ever I cursed my black old mother
And wished she were in hell,
I'm sorry for that evil wish
And now I wish her well
My old man died in a fine big house.
My ma died in a shack.
I wonder were I'm going to die,
Being neither white nor black?

I was confused by this poem and left wondering who the speaker really was. Is he actually multicultural? Or does he wish to be? Nonetheless, Hughes speaks from a mature level after experiencing racism first hand through his “white old man” and “black old mother”. He expresses he sympathy and retracts his ignorant statements like “wishing she were in hell”. His level of understanding is further evidenced because he hates neither of his parents anymore. He realizes it is wrong for him to ever have blamed his parents for who he is. Lastly, he speculates upon the future and takes into account of his multi-ethnic background. He doesn’t know what will happen to him and therefore leaves the reader to draw his/her own conclusions.