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I TOO SING AMERICA
By Langston Hughes
"I, Too Sing America" is a poem written by Langston Hughes that demonstrates a yearning for equality through perseverance while disproving
the idea that patriotism is limited by
race.
It was first published in March 1925 in a special issue of the magazine Survey Graphic, titled Harlem: Mecca of the New Negro. It was later reprinted in Hughes' first volume of poetry, The Weary Blues in 1926.
It was first published in March 1925 in a special issue of the magazine Survey Graphic, titled Harlem: Mecca of the New Negro. It was later reprinted in Hughes' first volume of poetry, The Weary Blues in 1926.
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| Langston Hughes |
I TOO SING AMERICA
By Langston Hughes
I, Too Sing America
I am the darker brother
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong
Tomorrow,
I’ll sit at the table
When company comes.
No body’ll dare
Say to me,
‘Eat in the kitchen’,
Then.
Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed –
I, too, am, America.
INTRODUCTION
"I, Too Sing America” is a poem written by Langston Hughes from the perspective
of an African-American man - either a slave, a free man in the Jim Crow South,
or even a domestic servant. The speaker begins by declaring that he too can
“sing America,” meaning that he is claiming his right to feel patriotic towards
America, even though he is the “darker” brother who cannot sit at the table and
must eat in the kitchen. They were forced to live, work, eat and travel
separately from their white counterparts. Hughes is expressing his belief that
African Americans are a valuable part of America’s population and that he
foresees a racially equal society in the near future.
THEMATIC ANALYSIS
RACIAL SEGREGATION.
This poem reminds us far back to the
common practice of racial segregation during the early 20th century, when
African Americans faced discrimination in nearly every aspect of their lives.
They were forced to live, work, eat and travel separately from their white
counterparts. The persona shows that when there are visitors coming he is sent
to eat in the kitchen – a sign of racial segregation. He says
I am the darker brother
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes.
The Blacks were segregated from
enjoying the opportunities that America had to offer. They had few civil or
legal rights, were often victims of racial violence, and faced economic
marginalization in both the North and the South
IDENTITY AND AWARENESS
The persona is aware of his African
identity and he is proud of it. Even when they seem to segregate him in
enjoying some of the opportunities he does not react with violence. He accepts
his condition and turns it into a praise song that though he is a darker
brother who cannot sit at the table and must eat in the kitchen, he has the rights
to feel patriotic towards America. The words “I am a darker brother” sum up his
African Identity. Furthermore he shows that he is so positive about what
happens to him. As he says
But I laugh
And eat well
And grow strong
OPTIMISM AND HOPES
The persona is optimistic about his
future life. He proclaims that "tomorrow" he will join the others at
the table and no one will dare send him back to the kitchen. Not only that, but
the "others" will also see “how beautiful” he is and will therefore
feel ashamed.
Tomorrow,
I’ll sit at the table
When company comes.
No body’ll dare
Say to me,
‘Eat in the kitchen’,
This statement is extremely hopeful and
optimistic. He believes that there will be a day when racial tension in America
will come to an end and there will be a racially equal society in the near
future. Above all Hughes wants the white population to realize that
African-Americans are also a valuable part of the country's population.
I too, am, America.
CLASSES
In America everything was done on the bases of
racial prejudice. There are two classes in this society. The low class
comprising of the Black Americans who are sent to eat in the Kitchen and the
White population who eat at the table.
I am the darker brother
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
This class division was so intense during the days
of civil rights movement. Today they are gradually fading away as the white
population in America is beginning to recognise and appreciate the potentials
in the Black Americans. Today as the persona predicted the Black Americans can
sit at the table with White Americans in a sense that the opportunities for
prosperity described in The American
Dream are now free for every American. It is stated that "life should
be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each
according to ability or achievement" regardless of social
class or circumstances
of birth.
GUIDING
QUESTIONS
Ø
What is the poem about?
The poem is about a Black American who claims his right to feel
patriotic towards America, even if he is a “darker” brother who cannot sit at
the table and must eat in the kitchen. He expresses his belief that African
Americans are a valuable part of America’s population and that he foresees a
racially equal society in the near future.
Ø
What type of the poem is this?
It is a
freeverse/modern poem as it has variation in the number of verses in each
stanza. Specifically it is a Lyric poem. It expresses the strong feelings of
the poet towards racial injustice in America.
Ø
Who is the persona and how do you know?
The persona is a black American. This
is revealed in the first line of the second stanza when he says “I am the
darker brother” and the last stanza “I too am America”
Ø
What is the tone and mood of the poem?
The tone is neutral
and optimistic as the persona turns the mistreatments of his counterparts into
a praise song about his African-American Identity. He is not angry at what they
do to him but remains optimistic waiting for a better future. The mood is
neutral and optimistic.
Ø
Comment on the structure of the poem.
The poem is made up
of five stanzas of unequal number of verses and uneven length of lines per
stanza.
ü
Stanza one has only1 line
ü
Stanza two has 6 lines
ü
Stanza three has 7 lines
ü
Stanza four has 3lines
ü
Stanza five has only 1 line.
Ø
Language use
The language used is
simple and easy to understand. He has used some words that carry the message
across. A word like “darker” brother tells something about the personas
background.
Also the use of
ungrammatical English in the last stanza tells something about the language
used by the Black Americans. “I, too, am
America” instead of “I am an American
too”. This is because of Poetic license when the poet wants to achieve a
particular effect.
Figures of speech
ü
Symbolism
“Darker”
symbolizes black (African)
“Tomorrow”
stand for the near future
“Kitchen”
represents the opportunities of low reputation
ü
Parallelism
But I laugh
And eat well and grow strong
ü
Alliteration
When company comes
ü
Exaggeration
I am the darker brother. {It is not
possible for someone to be darker.}
ü
Irony.
There is an irony in these lines here
since we expect someone undergoing racial injustice will be angry, eat poorly
and grow weak, but this one is the opposite.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong
Ø
What does the line “They send me to eat in the kitchen” symbolize?
The fact is most black Americans were
segregated and kept away from enjoying the opportunities America had to offer.
However they didn’t give up. They got involved in areas they had talents for;
like music, movies, writing books, opening their own schools etc,. Finally they
grew up strong and now they are capable of challenging the white population in
some areas.
MESSAGES
Ø
Racial segregation should be abolished. Don’t judge the book by is
cover.
Ø
Both blacks and whites in America should be given equal rights to enjoy
the opportunities in America.
Ø
It is good to remain optimistic about life for good things lie ahead.
Ø
Africans should be proud of their African Identity.
RELEVANCE
Ø
The poem is relevant in those countries that still have racial segregation.
Ø
There are people who are always optimistic no matter what circumstances
they go through.
Ø
There are classes in most societies though not necessarily based on
colour.
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