Langston Hughes

Thank You Ma’am | Langston Hughes | Literary Roadhouse Ep 53

Thank You Ma’am

Next week’s story is Three Questions by Leo Tolstoy

Rated Clean

This week we discuss a lovely story by Langston Hughes about a teenager whose attempts at robbery are defeated by the kind woman who was to be his victim. This simple, clean story of compassion won us over. However, through discussion we discovered it lacked some of the layers we’ve seen in other pieces. Still, simplicity could work in the story’s favor. It worked for some hosts, and less so for others. Listen to hear a discussion on when less is more.

Also, the story led to a timely discussion about how children are treated differently in modern culture, and what we as a society may have lost. Additionally, the racial themes in the text also reflect current times, and our hosts explore them in the conversation.

Share with us your thoughts.

Don’t forget to rate the story! For the history of our goofy system, see Anais’ post “Read Short Stories or Ray Bradbury Cries.” On a scale of 1-6 Bradberries, how do you rate Thank You Ma’am? Tell us in the comments below or via voicemail, and we will give the final tally on the next episode.