Salvation: Langston Hughes’ Powerful Testimony
The short essay Salvation describes the time when the author was “saved”. He then goes on to tell how and when Jesus saved him, and what his parents think of him now. He says he does not believe in Jesus because he has never seen him as everyone claims. He “saved himself” so that he could make his church and family proud.
The story begins with him sitting at church on the mourners’ benches. All of them are waiting for the opportunity to be saved. He is watching as more children come to the front of the altar because they’ve seen Jesus and are not saved. The situation is different for him. As he sits at the altar, he prays to jesus that a miracle will happen. He and Westley are the only kids left. Westley becomes impatient and tells him, “Goddamn!” I’m bored of this. Let’s go up and get saved (p98). Westley stands up to be “saved”, he does not, he waits for Jesus. He knows he won’t be seeing Jesus any time soon, but decides to still go to church to show his family that he cares. After he leaves the church, he begins crying in bed.
This short essay is very relatable. Throughout my life, I was forced to follow a religion. My family and friends always told me that I was already saved and a Christian. At church, I did not decide what I believe until I turned 16. All my friends were so excited to have been saved and to meet Jesus, but not me. Then I decided to be my own judge that very day.
The short essay by Langston hughes “Salvation”, was a good story. You could feel the emotions of his character and his story because of how he told it. This story had many parts that I could identify with, particularly when the man was wailing in his bed because of his guilt over not lying about his past to his family.
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