Growing up and raised by his grandmother, Langston Hughes drew inspiration from her wisdom and her struggles in life. His mother had moved from place to place while trying to raise her son and perhaps couldn't support him with the little money she received. His father had left after a year of marriage to his mother. His mother allowed his mother to raise him and help him provide for his needs. In the poem "Mother to Son", this conversation may have occurred during one of his visits. He may have been at a low point in his life where people told him not to try to become a poet. This poem encourages Mr. Hughes, but also continues to build confidence in others today. In every conversation, feelings influence thinking and sometimes bring progress in another person's life. He wanted to influence the black community to strive for excellence in everyday life. Admitting the language his grandmother spoke, he used it to explain how he was able to continue in his career to become a great poet. Use words like "Bar" and "I'se" to set the tone instead of "naked" or "I've been" (line 7 ...