Answer:
In Langston Hughes' poem "As I Grew Older," two key phrases that unite the speaker's hopes with brightness are:
1. "Bright like a sun" - This phrase symbolizes the speaker's youthful dreams and aspirations, which are full of light, hope, and potential. The comparison to the sun emphasizes the intensity and brilliance of these dreams.
2. "My dream" - Throughout the poem, the speaker refers to "my dream," which is associated with light and brightness. The dream represents the speaker's hopes and aspirations that he once saw clearly, shining brightly in his mind.
These phrases encapsulate the initial optimism and vividness of the speaker's dreams before they are overshadowed by the metaphorical wall of racial oppression and societal barriers. The imagery of light and brightness serves to highlight the contrast between the speaker's original hopes and the obstacles that darken and obscure them.