Written in the latter half Langston Hughes' life, "Theme for English B" appeared in his seventh book of poetry, Montage of a Dream Deferred. Prior to this publication, Hughes, the dean of American Harlem Renaissance writers, found his career declining from its earlier high. Although interest in what was termed the "primitive Negro" culture of Harlem was in vogue in the roaring twenties, attitudes changed drastically during the Depression. In the 1930s, Hughes' interest in Marxism as an equalizer for all people and the waning national fascination with the exoticisms of Harlem dimmed the glowing public reception of Harlem's poet laureate. Montage of a Dream Deferred represent the second wind in critical acceptance of his work. Published in 1951 on the cusp of the civil rights movement, it continued Hughes' life-long preoccupation with the thwarted and unfulfilled desires of black migrants to New York City. The semi-autobiographical "Theme for English B" can be viewed as an explanation to those who criticized his use of the common vernacular and as a poignant summarization of the disparity between the stereotyped American Dream and the deferred dreams of Harlem.

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