I, Too, Sing America Analysis

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 be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody'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.

.: Response :.

Langston Hughes is talking about being black in America. He says that he is the darker brother and still loves this country very much. Society has put him down all his life, like when he says, “they send me to eat in the kitchen”. But secretly he is gaining power and growing stronger. Langston says, “They send me to eat in the kitchen, when company comes, but I laugh, and eat well, and grow strong”. When he says “Ill be at the table When company comes”, and when he says ill be at the table, he means he is there to stay because he wants to be apart of society and has something to say. Later, when they try to put him down, they realize how beautiful he is, and they’ll be ashamed of themselves. When people try to put him down he laughs and grows from it, and doesn’t let them discourage him anymore, and that is his reaction to harsh behavior. Then he says, “When company comes. Nobody'll dare, Say to me," Eat in the kitchen," Then. Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed---”. Also Langston goes from saying “I, too, sing America” to “I, too, am America” That shows how he went from just rejoicing America to becoming a part of it. Langston Hughes does not use any rhyming in this poem. I think he does that because he is not trying to rhyme or have any schemes. The poem is more like a story that teaches a lesson, in the form of a poem. Langston Hughes style is focusing on African American struggle and culture, in America. For a long time, blacks have been held back and harassed. For instance, there was slavery, and there is still racism, and discrimination. Langston Hughes is trying to make a point about Africans in America, and he says it in a way, where he is a servant or a slave to whites. That blacks a thriving in America and nobody will stop them, or try to put them down, because “Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am”

| Posted on 2008-04-07 | by a guest

.: Response :.

Langston Hughes is talking about being black in America. He says that he is the darker brother and still loves this country very much. Society has put him down all his life, like when he says, “they send me to eat in the kitchen”. But secretly he is gaining power and growing stronger. Langston says, “They send me to eat in the kitchen, when company comes, but I laugh, and eat well, and grow strong”. When he says “Ill be at the table When company comes”, and when he says ill be at the table, he means he is there to stay because he wants to be apart of society and has something to say. Later, when they try to put him down, they realize how beautiful he is, and they’ll be ashamed of themselves. When people try to put him down he laughs and grows from it, and doesn’t let them discourage him anymore, and that is his reaction to harsh behavior. Then he says, “When company comes. Nobody'll dare, Say to me," Eat in the kitchen," Then. Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed---”. Also Langston goes from saying “I, too, sing America” to “I, too, am America” That shows how he went from just rejoicing America to becoming a part of it. Langston Hughes does not use any rhyming in this poem. I think he does that because he is not trying to rhyme or have any schemes. The poem is more like a story that teaches a lesson, in the form of a poem. Langston Hughes style is focusing on African American struggle and culture, in America. For a long time, blacks have been held back and harassed. For instance, there was slavery, and there is still racism, and discrimination. Langston Hughes is trying to make a point about Africans in America, and he says it in a way, where he is a servant or a slave to whites. That blacks a thriving in America and nobody will stop them, or try to put them down, because “Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am”

| Posted on 2008-04-07 | by a guest

.: analysis :.

This poem is in response to Walt Whitman's poem "I Hear America Singing", in which he speaks of how happy everyone in America is and how life is perfect. Hughs wrote this to say that no, life is not perfect, especially for black people. When he says "I am the darker brother" (Hughes line 2) It is symbolic and connotative language. It is connotative language because, not only do you think of black people, but also of evil. So he is calling himself evil almost. But not in the way you would think, but it the way that he is ruining Whitman's image of America. Another important point is when he says "I'll be at the table" (Hughes line 9). This shows how he wants to be a part of society, that he has something to say, because when people come to a table it is to exchange thoughts, ideas, and just overall enjoy company. But he has been denied this because of him being sent to te kitchen when guests come over.SO he is almost threatening them that he will stay and give them a piece of his mind.
--
Laura (age 14)

| Posted on 2008-03-09 | by a guest

.: :.

The interpretation of this poem is that it is defining how the blacks were being treated by the whites.Meaning that when guests come to the house, the blacks should eat in the kitchen.But it seems that the blacks don't mind eating at the kitchen.the only thing that they mind is how they were being treated by the whites.The blacks are asking themselves,"Why do we have to eat in the kitchen whenever guests are in the house?"That's where they started saying that on the next day,they won't eat in the kitchen anymore.It is because of the fact that it doesn't mean that your a color person, then you have to eat the kitchen.This poem is all about the blacks standing up to their belief.And that belief is that no matter what color or race,people should all be treated equally.

| Posted on 2008-02-19 | by a guest

.: Interpretation :.

This writing is an expression of Langstons hopes to not only be accepted into American society as an African American, but for the people who once condescended the black race to understand how they wronged him and his people, and to feel remorse. The important thing in this poem to me is that he realizes that he was worth more than the way he was being treated, and that he had hope that one day America would understand how this treatment was not right and would assimilate the black culture.

-Anastasia Robinson (age 16)

| Posted on 2007-09-26 | by a guest

.: I TOO :.

The Harlem Renaissance was a time of new thought and revolution in the African American population of the Unites States. At the head of the African American literary movement in the United States was Langston Hughes, an enormously influential writer who had a very optimistic view of America and its people. During this time period, there was still much racial prejudice against African Americans, and segregation was heavily enforced. Langston Hughes wrote much about the inequality and racism he saw in America and the way he felt it should change. In his famous poem, “I,Too,” Hughes looks through the life of a black male servant to express his views of how his people are being treated. In this poem Hughes uses the word “America” as a symbol of diversity, equality, and perseverance. He shows that America was a place of segregation, but its future held the hopes of becoming a place of real equality for all. In this poem, America is a place for all people who are black or white or anything else.
By reading the title much can be inferred about the entire poem. Many thoughts are derived from the use of the word “I” as Hughes titles his poem, “I, Too”( Hughes 526). By using the word “I” he tells the reader that he, personally, is the subject of the title. Essentially, he is saying that he, too, or he also. By using the word “too” he is implying that he is included in it as well and is also part of whatever it is he is referring to. The title is particularly interesting, in that it seems to be a sort of miniature dialog snippet. “I, too,” is an awkward statement by itself and is seen most often as the beginning of a reply phrase. By using, “I, Too” as the title, Langston Hughes implies that the poem is a reply. In the first line he states, “I, too sing America”(526). He repeats the phrase “I, too,” found in the title in this line, placing emphasis on its importance that he is also included. He says here that basically he also sings America. This is an ironic statement because it is unclear how one can actually sing America. Here he is using the phrase, “sing America,” as a metaphor for the partaking, embracing, and inclusion in the idea and state of America. He is saying that, he also, as a black man, is rejoicing over America.
Furthermore, Hughes goes on to say, “I am the darker brother,” showing how he is a part of the family that is the American society, more specifically, the African American part (526). He implies that he is the black citizen who is brother to the lighter skinned white American. The word “brother” symbolizes a more significant and closer relationship with his siblings, or in this case, fellow citizens. He then goes into some detail depicting a scene by saying, “They send me to eat in the kitchen when company comes” (526). He does not exactly state who “they” are but it can be inferred that “they” are those who are in charge of him. It is also very simple to see that with the contrast of “they,” with him, and the way in which he saw himself as the darker brother, that “they” is more specifically referring to his white employer. By his employers sending him to eat in the kitchen when company comes, it can be inferred that he is somehow not worthy of sitting with everyone else for dinner when company is around. This means that the people who he works for feel as if he is inferior and does not deserve to be treated as an equal. He then says, “But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong,” showing his response to this harsh treatment (526-527). By saying that he laughs at this treatment he displays how he sees humor in how ignorant these people are. He continues to say that he eats well and grows strong showing that he finds optimism in the situation and takes benefit out of it, even though it is demeaning.
Moreover, in the next stanza Hughes changes the direction of the poem as he goes from the present, to talking of the betterment he sees in the future of America with the change of opinions that the white people will experience. As he looks towards the future he says, “Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table When company comes,” showing that in the future he will be counted as an equal and eat at the same place as everyone else. (527) Hughes then shows how his white employers will no longer look down upon him in the future and instead will embrace his presence by saying, “Nobody’ll dare Say to me, ‘Eat in the kitchen,’ Then” (527). By using the word “dare” he shows the seriousness of his outlook and how he knows in the future the situation will definitely be different.
Additionally, In the following lines he continues this thought of the future of America by saying, “Besides, They’ll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed”(527). By beginning this stanza with the word “Besides,” he makes it clear that this is truly his personal thought, and is using the word to say not only will they accept him as an equal, but they will see his beauty and be ashamed. “Beautiful” is not a word that is commonly associated with the looks of a man, but here it is used to describe more then just a man. It is describing a person that is a part of a fine and amazing race who represents beauty. He also uses the word, “ashamed” to stress the way in which the white people will have regret and remorse for ever looking down upon him. By saying this he also describes how he feels the future will play out in terms of the entire society. The very last line of his poem shows much about the entire idea of the poem as he states, “I, too, am America” (526). This line is almost perfectly parallel with the first line of the poem as he goes from saying “I, too sing America,” to “I, too, am America.” The difference is that in the first he is showing how he rejoices over America, whereas in the last he is showing how he truly is a part of America. By saying he is America, he is displaying another fact that Americans have come to heavily admire and cherish. He is saying that he also represents what America stands for; diversity, perseverance, and equality.
Ultimately, in this poem, Langston Hughes discusses the way a single black servant is sent to eat in a kitchen when company comes. Although, this seems like quite an insignificant event, it tells us so much about the culture of the early nineteen hundreds. The poem illustrates the way in which African Americans were treated at the time and provides an outlook to the views of the future of American society regarding the African American race. Hughes uses the term “America” to describe not only a place where everyone is free to do what they want, but a place where everyone is equal and given the same opportunities. In this poem, Hughes makes America a society that is fit for all people and will one day be completely and truly colorblind.


| Posted on 2007-04-29 | by a guest

.: Interpretation/ analysis :.

racial hatred of blacks was common in the early 20th century
Tomorrow is a metaphor for the future and hughes hopes that the future will bring equality for blacks
i too sing america is chosen as the title because it represents america, where all living within America is american, rtegardless of their religion, race, or the colour of their skin-
Vishnu, India, 15 years old

| Posted on 2007-03-25 | by a guest

.: :.

racial hatred of blacks was common in the early 20th century
Tomorrow is a metaphor for the future and hughes hopes that the future will bring equality for blacks
i too sing america is chosen as the title because it represents america, where all living within America is american, rtegardless of their religion, race, or the colour of their skin-
Vishnu, India, 15 years old

| Posted on 2007-03-25 | by a guest

.: Analysis :.

1. ‘I, too, sing America’ – shows that out of the numerous races living in America the black man also sings America. Other people who can claim to be American are the whites.
2. The first line is repeated but in the final stanza, he states, ‘I, too, am America’. This is marked by a caesural pause to achieve prominence and it reinforces the fact that even though he is black, he is also an American. The verse stands on its own to echo the final triumphant line.
3. He states that he is the ‘darker brother’ – He believes that the white people are his brothers and that he is just a darker shade of his white brothers. This connects with ‘They’ll see how beautiful I am’ – he believes that they are only discriminating him because they have not realised how beautiful he is.
4. The writer suddenly introduces ‘they’. We easily assume that he is in the period of time when segregation existed. The effect of this is that it makes the reader develop sympathy. It conveys the black man as an outsider while ‘they’ have control of everything.
-shaaji Kanex

| Posted on 2007-03-25 | by a guest

.: critique :.

the poem i,too,sing america is in a form of a song. it was written by the poet lagston hughes when he was traveeling on a ship and searching for job. he was rejected from evrywhere as only the whites were accepted.the americans considered the blacks as inhuman and inferior and they did not even identifiy as americans because they migrated from europe and africa to america. the poet writes about a servant who is a black n serves a white american. whenever a friend of a white comes home his master sends him to the kitchen to eat as he is ashamed of him. the black fels discriminated but he has an insight that a phase will come when the blacks will be equal to the whites and then they will sit at the same table and eat n no one will dare to tell the black to go inside and eat. at that time the americans will be ashamed of themselves because they did not realise the inner potentials of this race. they were known as harlems n for an extra piece of knowledge the famous art form of jazz was introduced by these people.

| Posted on 2007-03-23 | by a guest

.: :.

but you have to look at the title also

he said i to sing america

look up the word to the song of America and then you also see that it goes with the poem my

teach Mr. yano told me we spent the whole class on it

| Posted on 2007-02-05 | by a guest

.: :.

This poem serves as a critic on the life of a black man, who is unfairly not regarded as the American that he actually is. It foreshadows the uprising black movement toward freedom and equality within the country and discusses the shame whites will experience after realizing the disgusting nature of their treatment toward blacks.

| Posted on 2007-02-02 | by a guest

.: :.

The Harlem Renaissance (in which this poem was written) was a period of changing social perspectives, including that of where the black man fits into society. This poem describes how the blacks, even though they have been shunted to the back room, have a knowledge of a future where blacks and whites will sit and eat together under the American nationality. He laughs because the white man is not clairvoyent enough to see what a beautiful future is in store.

| Posted on 2005-12-06 | by Approved Guest

.: :.

This was a great poemLangston hughes wrote this poem about how badly blacks are treated. He was treated unequally and the whites thought him and all blacks to be inferior to whites. So whenever company came he was sent to the kitchen to eat. He looks toward the future and knows that things will change. Langston hughes wrote this poem about how badly blacks are treated. He was treated unequally and the whites thought him and all blacks to be inferior to whites. So whenever company came he was sent to the kitchen to eat. He looks toward the future and knows that things will change. Langston hughes wrote this poem about how badly blacks are treated. He was treated unequally and the whites thought him and all blacks to be inferior to whites. So whenever company came he was sent to the kitchen to eat. He looks toward the future and knows that things will change.

| Posted on 2005-05-10 | by Approved Guest

.: My understanding :.

Hughes talks about the ill-treatment of the black race in the 1930's America, when blacks were made to serve the White man as slaves and servants. This is where the now street-term "houseboy" comes from.

Hughes assumes the role of a black servant in this poem and tells a story of reality. A relaity in which dicrimination is second nature to the White man. He says wehenevr friends of the White man come over to the house, he is shunned away to go to the kicthen and eat there. This shows how disgusted the Whites felt on the thought of sharing their joys and gatherings with the blacks.

The black servant sits in the kitchen and laughs at the white man's foolishness for he belives that one day the true beauty of the black man will be realised and the no will dare to discriminate him ever again. This will be the near future and this will be when the white man will feel ashamed of his past acts.

| Posted on 2005-04-11 | by Approved Guest

.: INTERPERTATION :.

This poem shows the struggle of African Americans during the 1930’s. It is about an African American servant working for a white man. Whenever the white man has company the “inferior” black slave is sent to eat in the kitchen alone and isolated. However, the servant laughs because he knows that he is beautiful and instead says that tomorrow things will be different; better. He doesn’t really mean tomorrow, its simply a metaphor meaning the future. He thinks that in this future whites will realize how beautiful blacks are, and be ashamed that they didn’t see what was on the inside, only what was on the inside.

Analyasis by Charlotte J. Shepard (age 13)
Wednesday, March 30th, 2005

| Posted on 2005-03-30 | by Approved Guest

.: ANALYSIS :.

Langston hughes wrote this poem about how badly blacks are treated. He was treated unequally and the whites thought him and all blacks to be inferior to whites. So whenever company came he was sent to the kitchen to eat. He looks toward the future and knows that things will change.
Langston hughes wrote this poem about how badly blacks are treated. He was treated unequally and the whites thought him and all blacks to be inferior to whites. So whenever company came he was sent to the kitchen to eat. He looks toward the future and knows that things will change.
Langston hughes wrote this poem about how badly blacks are treated. He was treated unequally and the whites thought him and all blacks to be inferior to whites. So whenever company came he was sent to the kitchen to eat. He looks toward the future and knows that things will change.

- Katie Diez

| Posted on 2005-03-30 | by Approved Guest