Langston Hughes’s “I, too”

Context

Also known as “I, too, Sing America”, the poem first appeared in the 1926 volume of Hughes’s poetry titled The Weary Blues. The poem focuses on African American identity within the dominant white culture of the USA, arguing for the place and equality of Black Americans. It captures the history of oppression of black people by means of slavery, denial of rights and inequality.

The poem is written in a free verse, meaning the poem follows no strict use of no rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. The poem is very brief, containing only five stanzas, two of which are only one line long.  In total, there are only eighteen lines to the work. As a result of its directness, short length, and simplicity, the poem feels like a very personal conversation and attempt to get a more positive message out in a time of racial inequality.

The opening line of the poem may be an allusion to one of America’s most famous poets, Walt Whitman; specifically, his poems “I Sing the Electric Body” and “I Hear America Singing”. Such an allusion might suggest that Black history and culture is just as much American as Walt Whitman, one of the nation’s most famous literary giants.

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.

As mentioned in the context, the opening line may allude to two of Walt Whitman’s poems. Whitman is one of the most famous American literary giants.

Additionally, consider the speaker’s tone in the first line. Is it more authoritative or timid?

Consider the structure of this line in relation to the historical context. Why might the “too” referring to the Black speaker, being inserted although still separate to the rest of the sentence, have some significance?

Throughout the poem, the speaker uses a declarative voice, stating strongly what they are, what they will do, and how they will be treated. What other examples do you see and how does this achieve a particular tone?

What effect is achieved from the speaker’s diction of “brother”? What is he implying about people, Black or White? Furthermore, is there any effect via the use of “darker”, instead of perhaps a term like “Black”?

What is meant by “they”? How does this explore themes in the poem?

Here, the speaker uses ENJAMBMENT, a poetic technique where a clause/sentence is continued over more than one line. What is the effect of separating this clause, the first being about the Black speaker and the second likely about White guests? Moreover, this clause alludes to the racial inequality found in America, such as Jim Crow Laws in the South, which saw White and Black people separated, with the latter often working for the former, despite slavery being over.

What effect does the speaker’s use of polysyndeton have when discussing his positive reaction to inequality? How does this impact tone?

What effect does this imagery have? How do these images juxtapost the treatment of the speaker? Structurally, how do the lines “grow” as the images do, and what might this suggest?

What is meant by “Tomorrow”? Is it literal or figurative? How does this impact the overall tone of the poem? What tense is this stanza in and how is it different from the previous?

Again, how do the declarative statements impact the tone of the poem?

How, via this imagery of being at tables, does this stanza link to the previous? What is different? What might the table be read as a metaphor for?

How does the speaker’s tone alter slightly from this line? How is such a tone towards racial inequality impacted and what authorial choices achieve this?

This is reported speech indicating this is what is currently said to the Black speaker by those in power. What effect does its inclusion have? What is the tone, achieved through the imperative, towards the Black speaker by those speaking?

The final line of this sentence is enjambed, separated from the previous. What is the significance of this? How does it connect to the first line of this stanza?

How does the opening of this stanza affect the tone of the poem and this stanza in particular?

Again, what is meant by “they”?

By repeating “I am”, like in the second stanza, what does the speaker become metonymic for? (In other words, what larger group does the speaker stand in for?)

How does the speaker’s final line in this stanza alter the tone? What atmosphere is created and how? Furthermore, the stanza is left open, without final punctuation (such as via a period or exclamation point). What might the effect of this be?

Like in the first stanza, the adverb “too”, signifying inclusion, is separate from the rest of the sentence. What is significant about this?

The speaker uses a metaphor, comparing themself to America in general. What is implied via this?