American Literature II

I, Too

 

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.

 

Langston Hughes’ I, Too is a statement about racial equality, a declaration of pride in African American’s progress, and a hopeful look into America’s future. The poem opens with a reference to Walt Whitman’s I Hear America Singing – an extraordinarily patriotic poem that glorifies individuals of all occupations and genders in America. And to Whitman’s claim for America love, Hughes says: “I, too, sing America.” By establishing his stance with Whitman’s audience, the speaker reveals that he is an outsider to a majority. Evidently, the poem raises a strong sense of self by starting with the word “I”. However, this sense of self cancels out when paired with “too” since it shows the speaker’s desire to be part of the masses. The peculiar image of singing a nation is exceptionally well-crafted when that nation is America. For a large part of history, America was regarded as the New World, a place that accepts all and is defined by all. Similarly, a song accepts all for it can be sung by all. More correctly, perhaps Hughes plays with Whitman’s phrase as this is the America that he aspires to: a nation that rejects none. Then, the speaker reveals himself as “the darker brother”. By this point, it has become quite apparent that the speaker is no longer one individual but rather is a representative of the African American population. The speaker has greatly shortened the distance between the majority and him when he calls himself their brother – a blood relative but more significantly, an equal. Unfortunately, the speaker is faced with a very different reality. He is sent to the kitchen whenever the family is joined by company. Now, the speaker does not seem like a brother in the family anymore, but rather like a servant of the house. Instantly, readers are taken back to the slavery era, when the kitchen was the dining area for slaves and animals. As much as it is a historical truth, the kitchen is also a symbol of warmth and prosperity. So, even though it is used as a way of oppression, the speaker still “laugh[s], / and eat[s] well, / and grow[s] strong.” Ironically, it works against the white owner’s intention. The tone here seems daring, provocative, as though he is challenging them to throw their best effort at him and still he will bloom and thrive. This is also Hughes’ recognition of the progress African Americans have made against all adversity. They not only grow stronger under oppression but also are still able to retain joy in their lives as they thrive for more. In the third stanza, Hughes looks to the future and sees equality as the speaker looks to “tomorrow” and sees his seat “at the table/ when company comes.” Not only he has claimed a seat, but also he has their respects for he is able to “dare” them to say “Eat in the kitchen,” The end of the third stanza is painted with slight sorrow by one word only – “then”. Similar to “tomorrow” at the beginning of the stanza, “then” indicates a point in time and stands on its own in singularity. But unlike “tomorrow”, “then” suggests an unknown point in time, while “tomorrow” seems more hopeful, specifying a closer future and showing a stronger certainty. So, the speaker knows that this future will come but is uncertain of when it will come: in his lifetime, in his children’s lifetime or in his grandchildren’s lifetime. The speaker turns away from this melancholic note with a casual “besides”.

Besides,

They’ll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed-

 

Finally, his beauty will be recognized and they will turn shameful of the past. It is absolutely amazing how the speaker is still able to see his own beauty (while living in such horrible time and being told differently repeated times) and believe so strongly that one day, he will be seen too. And then, yes then, he will be the bigger one as they will look back and look down. The last stanza is like a loud declaration at the faces of all the racist and ignorant white Americans. As though the speaker, after holding his breath for years have finally been able to scream from the deepest depth of his lung: “I, too, am America.” At last, he has not only joined in the choir to sing the tunes America sings but he has become America. Like them, he is the nation too.