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.

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Please learn to spell before you post people! Who would have thought the youth of today would embarrass the geniuses of yesterday so much? To the kitchen all y'all

| Posted on 2010-01-23 | by a guest

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These post really helped me out for an essay i had to write about what this poem meant to the people today. Thanks yall.

| Posted on 2009-12-15 | by a guest

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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 2009-11-30 | by a guest

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I am a graphic designer and chose to quote this very influential man for a racial profiling poster. Thank you for writing this Langston Hughes.

| Posted on 2009-11-04 | by a guest

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I, Too, Sing America is an exceelant poem describing the pain felt by a Black in a world dominated by the Whites. In this poem, Langston Hughes tries to express the agony with a hope that tommorrow will definitely bring a change and the Americans will traet the Blacks with equal honour at all spheres of life, as rightly mentined in the last line of the poem that "I, too, am, America.
Mohan Murari Tripurari
JNU, New delhi, INDIA

| Posted on 2009-10-23 | by a guest

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I, Too, Sing America is an exceelant poem describing the pain felt by a Black in a world dominated by the Whites. In this poem, Langston Hughes tries to express the agony with a hope that tommorrow will definitely bring a change and the Americans will traet the Blacks with equal honour at all spheres of life, as rightly mentined in the last line of the poem that "I, too, am, America.
Mohan Murari Tripurari
JNU, New delhi, INDIA

| Posted on 2009-10-23 | by a guest

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this poem is about how black people were not treated equally. he is saying that one day he will be on the same level as the white man.

| Posted on 2009-10-21 | by a guest

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He seems to be rebelling aginst the years of slavery. By saying they will be ashamed it's clear that the they who will be ashamed are the white people who have pushed him down over the years and he's saying someday they will be ashamed too.

| Posted on 2009-06-05 | by a guest

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this poem is an inspiring poem. Because the writer tries to describe the condition of being black in america. He asks for equal rights between black and white in america.A giat sijabat.

| Posted on 2009-05-27 | by a guest

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i love this poem
it really show wat life was like
in the early 1930's

| Posted on 2009-05-14 | by a guest

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I love this poem. It is very touching. Many people can relate to this poem.. I love it.
-Brittany Sykes

| Posted on 2009-05-13 | by a guest

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i love this book i rectited this in school everyone loved it

| Posted on 2009-04-22 | by a guest

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this is a great poem... i luv it!!
it is cool.. it reminds me of the great debaters movie which is pretty BOMB even tho its about schoolish type stuff!!

| Posted on 2009-03-21 | by a guest

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What type of peom is this like a limerick or somthin'? I love you Langston!:)

| Posted on 2009-03-18 | by a guest

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This poem is a response to Walt Whitman's peom, "I Hear America Singing," And this peom really shows the diffrence between whites and blacks. Hughes had hope for the future ("tomorrow"). Hughes grew up very poor and having to work as a young child, and for him to accomplish so much in his life is amazing.

| Posted on 2009-03-05 | by a guest

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Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

| Posted on 2009-02-24 | by a guest

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this is a really great poem and is alot like "cold Sassy Tree"if you ever read that book by Olive Ann Burns.

| Posted on 2009-02-11 | by a guest

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I Too Sing America is about slavery and how african american black people were treated badly. Although its about this, the narrator gives out a positive impact on the read, too which makes them think about how they can hope for the future. '' But I laugh,And eat well,And grow strong '' This doesn't only suggest that he is getting stronger physically but also mentally which states that he doesn't take the slavery personal and hopes for tomorrow and he knows that tomorrow will be better and he believes that slavery will be stopped, and white people will see how beautiful his people are and appreciate them. It is also how colour doesnt mean anything and they all are the same and also is about how America unites and how everyone is family even if they have a different skin tone, they are all brothers and sisters and the family that are and make America.

| Posted on 2009-02-11 | by a guest

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I think this poem means that hope is all you really can do in a time of pain. When you have nothing, hope. Then, one day, hopefully tomorrow, america would see that everyone including the narrator in this poem is america or is a part of america no matter what.

| Posted on 2009-02-10 | by a guest

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i agree wz the idea that this poem is akind of response to walt whitemans i hear america singing and as for the statemen of im the darker brother hughes uses the word brother because he maybe is areal brother because in slavery days the master would sleep wz his servent and would have children with her but he wouldnt acknowledge them as his own so hughes wants indirectly to say that im ur brother i have the same right u have in this country and being dark wont deny me this right raheel taha egypt 22

| Posted on 2009-01-21 | by a guest

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i agree wz the idea that this poem is akind of response to walt whitemans i hear america singing and as for the statemen of im the darker brother hughes uses the word brother because he maybe is areal brother because in slavery days the master would sleep wz his servent and would have children with her but he wouldnt acknowledge them as his own so hughes wants indirectly to say that im ur brother i have the same right u have in this country and being dark wont deny me this right raheel taha egypt 22

| Posted on 2009-01-21 | by a guest

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This poem is basically about the struggle of a working minority, a black man, suffering the hardship of unfair labor. In the poem, Hughes states " I am the darker brother," although his skin is darker, nonetheless, he's a brother, a part of society, he's America. Then he goes on to say that when company arrives, he's sent to the kitchen. "But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong." This sort of positive, humorous yet ironic tone foreshadows hope and determination, later on in the poem. The second stanza, symbolizes growth. The first stanza being the present and the second stanza being the future. Then in the last stanza he states "They'll see how beautiful I am," yes, just like the song, America the Beautiful. Then next line says " And be ashamed--" They will be ashamed for bringing down America the Beautiful, America, the black man, the worker...America.
_S.D._

| Posted on 2009-01-20 | by a guest

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| Posted on 2008-12-14 | by a guest

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This poem is about how blacks were treated unequally.
This is during the Harlem Renaissnace, it shows how the blacks will overcome. They will be eating with white people soon. He will be inviting them to eat with him. This is obviously a peace of art that helped Harlem become the neighborhood it became in the 1930s

| Posted on 2008-12-09 | by a guest

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Hello my name is forest forest gump and I like shrimp, you can boil shrimp frie shring, saucte shrimp, have shrimp sandwichs, gumbo, salad, pineapple shrimp, hawaiian shrimp, coconut shrimp, BBQ shrimp, shrimp and pasta, grilled shrimp, pan fried shrimp, and and my person favorite calabash shrimp. Well me and Jenny are not talking but i still love her, I lve Pingpong!!!! and ice cream!!!! and if luetinate dan is anywhere Hi luetinate Dan Ice cream

| Posted on 2008-12-09 | by a guest

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Hello my name is forest forest gump and I like shrimp, you can boil shrimp frie shring, saucte shrimp, have shrimp sandwichs, gumbo, salad, pineapple shrimp, hawaiian shrimp, coconut shrimp, BBQ shrimp, shrimp and pasta, grilled shrimp, pan fried shrimp, and and my person favorite calabash shrimp. Well me and Jenny are not talking but i still love her, I lve Pingpong!!!! and ice cream!!!!

| Posted on 2008-12-09 | by a guest

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what questions might the poem's title cause the reader to ask ??

| Posted on 2008-11-14 | by a guest

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The explanations and analysis of this poem are perfectly germane to what Langston Hughes is trying to say. It's not about posting something new or whatever. It's quite ignorant to criticize these comments becauase of what the commenters are gaining from the poem. I mean, this poem is about the struggle of African-Americans in America. It's about the rite of passage or being accepted and becoming a part of a country that we all call home. It's not about posting something spectacular and different. If it's waisting your time then YOU yourself need to come up with some analysis that only you and the one and only god could have gotten out of the poem. be forreal. Don't act like your perception is so much more intellectual than anybody else's.
by a guest

| Posted on 2008-11-11 | by a guest

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i hate when people post the same crap on here over and over. just dont put anything if your gonna say the same thing as everyone else. save me some time.

| Posted on 2008-10-12 | by a guest

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With rise of Senator Barack Hussein Obama, I tend to believe that the lines,"...Tomorrow
I will be at the table
...Nobody'll dare
say to me...
see how beatiful I am'
this is just dream come true.
John Lawrence Opate: Nairobi- Kenya

| Posted on 2008-09-25 | by a guest

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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 2008-06-05 | 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

.: 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

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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

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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