"Salvation" Summary

Author Langston Hughes, in his essay “Salvation,” tells the story of the defining moment when he realized he was an atheist, at the age of twelve. The story starts with him sitting on a bench with all of the unsaved children at the front of his Auntie Reed’s Church during a “revival.” Hughes was extremely excited for this event. He had heard much about the wonderfulness of Jesus entering a soul. He had been told he would see, hear, and feel when it happened. Langston Hughes recounts waiting there while listening to a preacher who begged for them, “the little lambs,” to come to Jesus. Hughes, however, was waiting for Jesus to come to him as the elders had explained would happen. Eventually, only Hughes and another boy sat on the bench. The boy, Westley, told Hughes, "God damn! I'm tired o' sitting here. Let's get up and be saved." Young Hughes was then the center of attention, the pastor, his aunt and, others all begged him to come to God. Hughes looked at Westley who had not seen Jesus and was not struck down for lying. He made the decision to get up and “be saved.” There were cheers as he rose which turned into singing and all the children were blessed. That night Langston Hughes lay in bed and cried because he had lied; he had not seen Jesus. In fact, he no longer existed in Langston’s mind. (Hughes)

Works Cited

Hughes, Langston. “Salvation.” The Literature Network Forums. 19 April 2015 <http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?67465-Salvation-A-short-essay-by-Langston-Hughes>.

"Salvation"