I Too By Langston Hughes

The division between whites and blacks was clearly prevalent and the United States of America was a racially discriminatory society reinforced by its racist laws. Hughes took the initiative to speak his mind via poetry, resulting in his piece “I, Too”. In this poem, Hughes clearly signifies one thing: Just because his skin color is different from whites, does not mean that they get to sing the National Anthem louder. Arguing that all American citizens are the same, disregarding their skin color, Hughes applies in this poem a master-slave relationship. The assumed white master shows disrespect to his servant by sending him away whenever visitors come over, because he is ordered to eat secluded from the company. However he seems to not be faze by this and actually finds it funny, supported by “But I laugh” (5). Furthermore, not only does he find amusement in this unpleasant situation, but the isolation has a positive effect on him “And grow strong” (7), implying that even though he submits to his master, his spirit will not be diminished.

Hughes did not make this poem very long and narrative, instead, he made it quick and to the point. On line three he says, "They send me to eat in the kitchen when company comes." In saying those words, he is saying that the people are inferring that because he is of darker color he has been scolded and deprived of his freedom. The people have sent him to the kitchen to eat because they felt that he was not of high enough standards to eat in the kitchen when the company comes. Also, this may mean that the people are afraid of what the company might say when they see a black man in the house.

“I too” by Langston Hughes and “Dreams” by Nikki Giovanni are poems concerning conformity and rebellion. I too was published in the 1926 volume of poetry by Langston Hughes. It is about an African American man, who is “either a slave, a free man in the Jim Crow South, or even a domestic servant”, that conforms to the ideas and traditions between black and white people. He does this, while quietly waiting for the day that he will not have to conform or “stay in the kitchen” anymore. Dreams is about a black girl who dreams to be famous singer when she is a child. However, as she grows older, and starts to understand the labels and roles black girls are put in in society at the time, she conforms to the idea of settling down and letting her

Langston Hughes, a popular African American writer, often wrote about oppression as a black person in segregated America. In his poem, “I, Too, Sing America,” Hughes expresses his experiences of oppression and how dreams of an inclusive America. During Hughes time, the Harlem Renaissance, many black civil rights activists conveyed their hopes of being accepted into society, much like Hughes. The poem showed the non acceptance of the African American people, as through the non acceptance of the “darker brother” in the poem. Hughes speaks for the African American people when he expresses that he, too, wishes to rise up to

Langston Hughes’ short poem I, Too portrays a man who is African-American talking being black in the society. In the poem it is mainly about a black person being seen in the society and being criticize for having different skin color. In the beginning of the poem it starts off by saying “I, too sing, America” and singing is also a form of speaking and the speaker is talking about being black living in America to the audience. The speaker is introducing himself stating “I am the darker brother” (2). Hughes is also an African-American and this gave us a clue that he is referring to his people with darker skin color living in America who is being criticize by white people in society. “They’ll see how beautiful I am” (16) represents even though having darker skin he is still beautiful and not care what other’s think.

Langston Hughes poem “I, Too” was written during a time when segregation was in affect, blacks was not allowed to have a voice. “I, Too” spoke volumes to the people of the Harlem Renaissance, it showed that blacks would rise and would become part of the American dream instead of facing ongoing segregation. African Americans would

Hughes’ famous poem, I, Too, was written in the mid 1920’s. Similar to most African Americans pioneers in this era, he felt strongly about “racial segregation,” (Ilieva and Lennox 1) or racial inequality and used his writings to voice his opinion on the issue. In I, Too, Hughes states that he is the “darker brother” (713) of America, meaning that he is a member of the African American community. At this particular time, racial inequality was a common issue for African Americans. Jim Crow laws were in effect to keep African Americans from receiving equal treatment as White Americans. Further evaluating stanza two from I, Too, Hughes says “They send me to eat in the kitchen when company comes” (713) showing a time of racial inequality. Along

This poem is a tribute to the well-known abolitionist Frederick Douglass, and gives a cause and effect analysis of the allowance of freedom to African Americans. For this reason, this poem can be interpreted very specifically to the African American struggle for civil rights and search for the true understanding of attaining freedom. The sense of exclusivity in this poem can come from lines such as, “…this man, this Douglass, this former slave, this Negro….” (1067) The words presented in this line such as “Negro” immediately strike the reader as specific to the African American race, and, therefore, transforming the entire poem into a poem directed toward a specific audience. The struggle for freedom post-emancipation was uniquely highlighted in this poem. African Americans still felt extremely subservient in relation to the white population, and Hayden clearly noted that feeling in this strong piece. The piece can solely be seen as a tribute that offers relatability for those African Americans of the time period. It can also be interpreted as a relatable piece for African Americans of any time as related to the historical essence of their lives. This piece may seem exclusive, but it can also offer much

Hughes wanted to promote black culture, and the tradition and beauty behind it, so black artists may write without the white washing of their own culture. The poetry Hughes brought to the black community held historical significance, his art brought out the joy of being black through words and insightful meaning while acknowledging the struggles in the black community. In Hughes’ poem, I,Too, and tells the audience that despite his dark skin color, he is no less American and no less wonderful. He tells his audience, “I am the dark brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen”, symbolizing the common way a slave would be treated at the time.

The poem “I too” by Langston Hughes indicates that one day the speaker hopes that he will viewed as an American and uses devices such as enjambments, line breaks to emphasize emotion and meaning. In the first stanza, the nameless speaker proud proclaims “I, Too Sing America” as a standalone sentence which cements his voice as a strong patriot. In one sentence, Langston Hughes showcases the example that less means more. The use of the lone stanza functions as a declaration of pride and the end–stop allows the

Langston Hughes’s poem I, Too published in 1926 speaks at great length about the American identity: to be an American is an issue that transcends race, and all Americans should be treated equally. Writing from the perspective of an initially subservient African American, Hughes presents a story that begins in oppression and ends in triumph. A throwback to the prior institution of slavery, the setting of I, Too is confined to a single slave owner 's house; yet, it paints an image of struggle, growth and unity like none other of its time.

      In the first line of "I, Too", Hughes says that he too sings America. He is saying that he too sings America. He is saying that he embraces everything America embodies, everything that established her in the first place. He sings for the freedom, the beautiful mountains, and her independence. Even though he embraces America in all her beauty, he is really saying I love this country and I should be socially acceptable in it. He wants everyone to see this, especially when he states that he is the darker brother. That second line quos the reader into why he is not accepted into society. That line spoke true of his life and what he faced everyday just walking down the street Because he was the darker brother, they would send him away to eat in the kitchen when company would come. However, he says he laughs, eats well, and grows strong. He knows one day African Americans will be accepted into society. Therefore, he takes care of himself and does not let society's opinion get him down. He is confident in this because when company comes they will be ashamed that they did not let him eat out in the open. Society will see his beauty and not see him as a disgrace. He finishes off his poem saying that he is America too. He is the freedom, the beautiful

“I, Too” a poem written by Langston Hughes, in a perspective of an African American narrator during the Harlem Renaissance Era. He shared his feelings and thoughts about how he was treated an simply how he felt towards the way black people were being treated by the white people and segregation of race during the 20th century. The poem was written in five different stanzas in a form of free verse, meaning the poem does not rhyme or have a regular meter. The sentences of the poem were shorts but yet the tone was very strong. The poem is titled “I, Too”, the first and the last stanza of the poem ends with the same words. the authors idea is to remind his readers that no matter how different the way that he was being treated or his