"I will not take "but" for an answer"

Langston Hughes, a seminal figure in the Harlem Renaissance, was known for his powerful and poignant usage of language to address African American identity, struggle, and strength. The quote "I will not take 'but' for a response" represents a spirit of determination and defiance that courses through much of Hughes's work and talks to wider styles of resistance and determination.

In stating "I will not take 'however' for a response," Hughes asserts a rejection to accept excuses or obstacles that dismiss or undermine one's goals or rights. The word "but" is typically used as a combination that introduces a contrast or an exception. In the context of social and racial justice, "however" can frequently act as a rhetorical device that compromises arguments for equality or delays action by presenting conditions or limitations. For instance, phrases like "I support equality, but ..." or "I want to assist, but ..." recommend resistance and frequently beginning reasons for inaction or complicity in systemic injustice.

By declining "however," Hughes insists on the seriousness and non-negotiability of needs for justice and equality. It is a call to reject half-measures and to pursue one's objectives with steadfast resolve, despite resistance or rationalizations that recommend the need for compromise. This viewpoint is reflective of a broader ethos within civil liberties movements, where activists typically had to press back against narratives that advocated for steady change or appeasement.

Additionally, this declaration is an empowering tip of the company and tenacity required in the face of adversity. It has to do with accepting a full and unapologetic claim to one's rightful place and dignity, refusing to be swayed by doubts or appointments from external sources. In essence, Hughes's statement is a motivational exhortation to persist in the mission for justice and to remain steadfast in the face of objections that look for to dilute or delay rightful demands.