Hughes talks about rivers “old and dark” and how his soul grows as deep as the rivers. Blacks built the pyramids and slaves worked in the fields near the Mississippi River. The speaker uses his voice to speak on behalf of all African Americans, across their heritage lineage. He talks about listening to Mississippi songs related to his African heritage. The speaker reflects on Abe Lincoln visiting New Orleans and talks about seeing muddy breasts. The words muddy could be a color image that connects to the sunset shining on people and making them beautiful. Hughes' poem shows a link to the poem "I Too". In both poems, Hughes speaks to the audience by describing African America as their white brothers, because they worked the land with their hands, building and working the land near the Euphrates, which is an ancient Mesopotamian river. This simple and concrete poem describes the history of black Americans by retracing the beginnings of the birth of humanity. As we look at the poem “My People,” the images are reflected in the poems “I Too” and “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” All three poems reflect on the rebirth of the African American people and their struggles, hopes and dreams. THE