What do the rivers represent in “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”?

Responses

The rivers symbolize human suffering and pain.
The rivers symbolize human suffering and pain.

The rivers symbolize the uniqueness of different eras in time.
The rivers symbolize the uniqueness of different eras in time.

The rivers symbolize the collective history of African and African American people.
The rivers symbolize the collective history of African and African American people.

The rivers symbolize the steadfastness of the physical world.

The rivers symbolize the steadfastness of the physical world.