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I Look at the World by Langston Hughes
I look at the world
From awakening eyes in a black face—
And this is what I see:
This fenced-off narrow space
Assigned to me.
I look then at the silly walls
Through dark eyes in a dark face—
And this is what I know:
That all these walls oppression builds
Will have to go!
I look at my own body
With eyes no longer blind—
And I see that my own hands can make
The world that's in my mind.
Then let us hurry, comrades,
The road to find.
As my perspective on life and living has evolved, I have grown into a stronger, more thoughtful, and more determined version of myself. Things are constantly changing: I am continually barraged with conflicting opinions and perspectives and questions that I don’t know the answer to. People, opportunities, and experiences come and go. It is painstakingly difficult to decipher the purpose and meaning behind all of these things, however, I know that a part of discovering and understanding that purpose is to try and make sense of the way that I see the world and why I see it the way that I do.
It is only fitting that I have to make this journey while experiencing some of the most difficult and trying times of my life. Racial unrest and injustice, political turmoil, and a global health crisis have all come together to craft 2020 into one of the most unique societal turning points that many of us have ever seen. I Look at the World, a brilliant poem written by Langston Hughes, whole-heartedly encompasses my own personal development of my understanding of my identity and how I navigate my life. It is the principle of this poem that motivates my efforts to enact change within my surroundings. Opportunities to share with, educate, and be kind to others present themselves at just about every corner, but I struggle to connect with those who want to believe the same. My own initiative to build the community that I want to be a part of starts with finding the comrades that want to help pave the way. Although not everyone is accepting and understanding of the truths that current events have uncovered, paving a wider path, with a little help from my friends, makes the truth less difficult to acknowledge. It is only once we accept and acknowledge the truth that we can truly see the world.
Sydney Finley is a McConnell Scholar in the class of 2023. She is studying biology and political science at the University of Louisville.