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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I too, support america’s beauty,and success, although i am of a different background. The politician want allow me to be apart of the decision makings of america. I am told to learn about what’s going on through the tv, newspaper, or radio, so i smiled and acquired understanding, and knowledge, but one day, i will be at the polls when mainstream america votes. Nobody can stop me from voting for a person of my choice, furthermore, they will witness my beauty, and success, and be embarassed about the way they treated me, because i am your brother.
The Interpretation of I , Too, AM AMERICA
you will find the symbolism your looking for [pertaining to table], by recalling Americas policy of blacks not being allowed to eat with white people, a policy that was also adopted by the white house].
“I, Too”; the basis of the idea is alienation and loneliness through discrimination – the narrator eats in the kitchen. This is a simple construction of intolerance and bigotry, but as the poem ends, you’ll notice that the symbolism of revolution, be it metaphorical or reality based, empowers the isolated man to move, from which point the isolated becomes the isolator. The entire poem is a symbol of bigotry as a symbol of the flip-flopping of social power structures.
This is a very insightful and colorful poem that is clear and understandable and has a very deep meaning. I am doing a project on the poem and i feel like i ate some spicy food when i read it. it is edible! great poem
I am doing a project on this poem and I found it easy to understand, but hard to pick apart.
I love Langston Hughes’ work. I, too, sing America is one of my favorite poems. I love the way he deals with how black americans are treated. I feel that it should be a requirement in all English Classes. There are many comparisons that can be made with how blacks are treated in 2005!
i have to teach Langston Hughes to my class and i have to be able to break the poem down and explain the true and metaphor meaning of the poem. can someone please give me the true back round of the poem or can they please give me a site i can go to to get it.
It was very hard for me to relate this peom to myself for an assignment but i still know what it means.
What a poem i love the feeling of it. It teaches you alot and I will love intreprteing in in class. Thanks for the pride and hope hughes
Langston Hughes poems are just splendid! Reading his poems make me feel like a whole different person they make me want to cry.
I like this Lansgston because he is not afraid to show and speak about true colors.
This poem has so many metaphors and symbols in such a small quantity. I love breaking this down, but i am still confused. Is the “table” a symbol of the projected views of americans during the 1920’s or is it the view of African Americans during the Harlem R…???
Langhston is Gangsta
I think that Langhston Hughes is a very good writer. He is not ashamed to say that his black skin is beutiful!!!
i feel it is a poem that tells the sufferings,humilation and hardship that the black skinned experienced
This is one of the greatest poems i have studied so far.It gives reference to the Blacks living in America.I Too sing America and other poems by Langston Hughes gave me much understanding about how the blacks were treated in America.
I think this poem is very good…it gives the reader an insight into the savage aspect of the American Dream, where equality, etc. is supposed to be on eof the main beliefs. However, the white family (I presume) send their black slave to the kitchen as they believe that Afro-American(?) is not pure American. This goes against their claims therefore and also against the religion of Christianity, which many Americans follow. Also, “They’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed” suggests to me that yes, the family will be ashamed as deep down they know it is contradictory to act in this way…however, it also suggests to me that the poet is perhaps also American as far as personality is concerned as he too in concerned with skin-deep beauty: something Westerners are renowned for.
Overall, a great poem.
this is a great poem
i like this poem very much because even back then when people wrote in confusing ways, i can completley understand and enjoy this particular poem written by Langston hughes. He is an excellent writer.
well i am only 14 but i believe that this poem is beautiful.One of my favorite parts is when Hughes says “Besides, they’ll see how beautiful i am and be ashamed”.he is one of my all time favorite writers and i for one think all his work is good!