Equality
Hughes begins the poem with a clear and powerful declaration: "Democracy will not come / Today, this year / Nor ever / Through compromise and fear." Through these lines, Hughes makes the argument that a true, genuine democracy can never be achieved through passivity or by accepting lesser rights out of fear. Hughes' call is clear: he wants there to be true equality for everyone, no matter their skin color or position in life, so that the United States can finally have a true democracy in which everyone has equal rights and opportunities. As such, the theme of equality permeates the entire poem; it forms the poem's ideological and emotional base.
Individual rights
The theme of individual rights plays an important part in "Democracy." Throughout the poem, Hughes argues that every person, no matter their skin color, has the innate right to freedom and a fair and functioning democracy. The phrase "I have as much right" underscores this. Hughes emphasizes that rights to freedom, democracy, and ownership are not privileges given by a dominant group to a marginalized one. Instead, they are inherent in every human being.
Struggle
In "Democracy," the theme of struggle acts as a powerful commentary on the civil rights movement. The poem is set in a time when African Americans ardently fought for the rights they deserved despite segregation, discrimination, and violence. Throughout the poem, Hughes vocalizes the deep-seated frustration many felt because they were incessantly told to wait. "I tire so of hearing people say/Let things take their course," he writes, highlighting the contradiction in expecting justice to materialize without direct action taking place. Beyond the political realm, this theme delves into the emotional toll exacted on those who are oppressed by systemically racist systems. Through his evocative words, Hughes juxtaposes the urgency felt by the marginalized against the status quo, who benefit from the oppressed people not having rights.
