In Langston Hughes's poem "The negro speaks of rivers" what does the Mississippi River symbolize

The Negro Speaks of Rivers? by Langston Hughes contains many symbolic meanings about the identity of African Americans.

Throughout the poem Hughes uses metaphorical statements to suggest to the reader what the soul of the African American has been through. The symbols of the old rivers from which the African American ideal has risen can be interpreted in many different ways.

They represent the birth and growth of the African American culture, and some of the most significant moments of their past. The words written in this poem represent the pride and knowledge of a group of outstanding people. the Mississippi River is the ultimate symbol of freedom.