In Langston Hughes “I, Too, Sing America”. Langston Hughes,

In Langston Hughes â€Å"I, Too, Sing America† Langston Hughes, â€Å"I too, Sing America† chronicles an African-American male’s struggle with patriotism in an age of inequality and segregation in the United States. The poem cleverly uses metaphors to represent racial segregation faced by African-Americans during the early twentieth century. The speaker presents a cry for equality and acceptance, and his words are a plea and a declaration for equality. Although, the poem does not directly imply racism, the speaker’s language suggests that he equates the kitchen to racial discrimination by American society. His word usage signals his wish to participate in a land that he proudly claims as his own despite his personal experiences of rejection.†¦show more content†¦The speaker uses end–stops to emphasize his confidence in his identity. The sextet has a plethora of metaphors which represent American society. For instance, the imagery alludes that the poem’s theme may really be a metaphor a bout race and discrimination. The speaker deploys imagery, such as, â€Å"darker brother†, â€Å"tables†, and â€Å"company† which frames America more as a salad bowl of separate, and unequal treatment of various ethnic groups, versus the melting pot that America portrays itself as (2). Given these points, the poem illustrates the speaker’s critique of a larger order. In the following line, the line break allows the reader to pause before beginning the next line in the stanza, which introduces the imagery of a kitchen. The metaphor of the kitchen suggests the theme of a second class citizen subjected to segregation in the United States. In doing so, the speaker inadvertently compares his position to a servant when he states that the company shoos him away to eat in the kitchen against his own will. The speaker’s language suggests that he compares his position to the role of a servant and master to describe his present experiences with segregation. Despite being shunned due to his racial background, the speaker’s triumph is illustrated in a series of enjambements that guide the reader: â€Å"But I laugh/And eat well† (5–7). Langston Hughes utilizes theShow MoreRelatedI Too, Sing America By Langston Hughes925 Words   |  4 PagesTashi Wangyal Prof. Hendrickson English 102 29 June 2017 Futurist-The Langston Hughes In his poem â€Å"I, too, sing America,† Langston Hughes has positively predict that there will be no racial segregation, inequality, injustice, and discrimination in society for African Americans in the near future. Whereas it is also true that African Americans have suffered a lot during the twentieth century. Hughes is correct in his prediction that he foresees racial equality in society and African Americans areRead MoreRobert Hayden And I, Too, Sing America By Langston Hughes1706 Words   |  7 PagesIn the poems â€Å"Frederick Douglass† by Robert Hayden and â€Å"I, Too, Sing America† by Langston Hughes, both authors engage in the common themes of race, oppression, and freedom, but Hayden contextualizes the theme in a wider mindset instead of narrowing it down to just black oppression, while Langston contextualizes the theme with a direct approach to black oppression and freedom. Not only are the approaches to the topic different, but they also relate through the messages that they are conveying aboutRead MoreAnalysis and Interpretation of I, Too Sing America by Langston Hughes1148 Words   |  5 PagesPoem I, Too Sing America is considered to be very characteristic for radical poetry of Langston Hughes. The majority of literary critiques and historians refer to Hugh es as one of the first American poets, who set the standards and examples how to challenge the post-World War I ethnic nationalism. His poetry contributed and shaped to some extent the politics of the Harlem Renaissance. In analysis of Black poetry Charles S. Johnson wrote that the new racial poetry of the Negro is the expressionRead MoreThe Difference Between Langston Hughes And I Hear America Singing998 Words   |  4 PagesIn this essay I will be talking about the differences between Walt Whitmans poem â€Å" I Hear America Singing† and Langston Hughes poem â€Å" I, Too, Sing America†. I will also be giving my opinion on whether or not Langston Hughes is responding to Walt Whitmans poem. Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and a columnist from Joplin, Missouri. Walt Whitman was an American poet, essayist, and a journalist from West Hills, New York. 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Being an African American in the United States during the early 1900’s was difficult. Many lived a life full of hardships; segregation, prejudice and economic hardships, viewed as second-class citizensRead MoreSimilarities And Similarities Between Langston Hughes And I Hear America Singing835 Words   |  4 Pagesthis paper I will be talking about the similarities and differences in the two different poems. The two poems were written by two incredible poets and were probably one of the best in their lifetimes. The first poem is written by Walt Whitman and is called â€Å" I Hear America Singing†. The other poem is by Langston Hughes and is called â€Å"I, Too, Sing America† .Many peopl e believe that Langston Hughes wrote his poem â€Å"I, Too, Sing America† in response to Walt Whitmans poem â€Å" I Hear America Singing†. 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This is where Harlem became famous to the whites because it drew so many African American writers from the south who wanted to flee an oppressive system, and freely express their inner talents. I too allowedRead MoreEssay on The Poetry of Langston Hughes During the Harlem Renaissance1694 Words   |  7 PagesI. Introduction: The Harlem Renaissance The village of Harlem, New York was originally established by Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant in 1658. It was named after a Dutch city, â€Å"Nieuw Harlem. It sits on a 5.5 square mile area of Manhattan north of 96th Street. The 1830s saw the abandonment of Harlem due to the fact that the farmlands failed to produce. The economic recovery in Harlem began in 1837. It boasted prosperous, fashionable neighborhoods that offered a diverse, rich background provided