The poem "Harlem" is full of questions. Is it significant that they have no answers?

Yes, it is certainly significant that the questions remain
unanswered and that the poem ends with a question and thus with no certainties for the
future. The unanswered questions are functional to the main themes of the poem. The
dreamer is left with no answers as to the future of his dream which represents the hopes
for equal rights between white and black Americans. This adds to the general sense of
frustration. But the lack of answers also has an effect on those white readers that in
1951, when the poem was published in the collection Montage of a Dream
Deferred continued to deny African Americans equal rights. This lack of
answers creates a sense of doom and threat for the larger society, especially because
the italicized question that closes the poem warns against the rage and violence that
the frustration of living in a racist society could
generate.

In addition, the six questions and the two dashes
create a broken rhythm that contributes to create a sense of instability and emotional
confusion.