The Harlem Renaissance gave rise to many African-American artists eager to share their works with the rest of the world, but it also gave rise to existing artists such as the poet Langston Hughes, whose poetry was, and still is, incredibly influential. One of Hughes' best works, "Dream Deferred," is still in the canon because it is thought-provoking and highly relatable. Hughes uses negative imagery and simple diction to convey a powerful message that appeals to a broad 21st century audience. Many people today, especially young people, tend to hold back their dreams due to fear. They struggle to find the courage to pursue and achieve those dreams. Therefore, it is not surprising that a poem like “Dream Deferred” still prevails. These changes could galvanize a revolution and ignite a spark of ambition in the dreamer. Hughes uses these examples to show people that putting off a dream may not always have pleasant consequences and this should motivate people to pursue their dreams in life because dreams are meant to be followed, not suppressed or acted out. The dream deferred mentioned in the poem symbolizes the American Dream that has been unreasonably denied to all black people. This is still relevant today; the American dream is unfortunately not available to everyone. Recent examples to support this are the Ferguson and Baltimore riots, which are ongoing protests brought to light due to the killing of innocent African Americans by white police officers. These protesters demand justice and punishment. Most people would agree that Black people are still fighting for equality and freedom. Hughes asks if deferred dreams “rot like a plague / and then run away?” Comparing the American Dream to a plague makes the poem much more relevant to today's events; people are still being hurt and killed for a basic need, and the more that dream is hidden from people, the more our world descends into chaos. Throughout the poem, Hughes uses simple words to convey a deep and meaningful message. By making poetry easy to read and understand, Hughes appeals to a wide range of