LangstonHughes
I, too, singAmerica.
Iamthedarkerbrother.
Theysendmetoeatinthekitchen
Whencompanycomes,
ButIlaugh,
Andeatwell,
Andgrowstrong.
Tomorrow,
I’llbeatthetable
Whencompanycomes.
Nobody’lldare
Saytome,
“Eatinthekitchen,”
Then.
Besides,
They’llseehowbeautifulIam
Andbeashamed —
I, too, amAmerica.
.
1) HowdoesthispoemmakeyouredefinewhatitmeanstobeanAmerican? Howis“America” presentedinthispoem, andhowdoesitmakeyoufeelaboutAmerica?
2) Whateffectdoestheintenselydomesticimageryofthepoem — thehouse, thekitchen, theeating, thetable — haveonthethemesofthispieceasawhole?
3) WhydoyouthinkHugheschosethecomparativeterm “darker” forthepoem’ssecondline, insteadof “dark”?
4) Towhomdoyouthinkthespeakerofthepoemconsidershimself “brother”? Wheredoesthepoemsuggestthis “brother” eatswhenthereisno “company” inthehouse?
5) WhatdoesthepoemsuggestaboutHughes’ assessmentoftheeconomicsituationofAfrican-Americansinthe1920s?
6) WhatdoesthepoempredictwillbetheeventualattitudeofwhiteAmericanstowardblackpeople?
: ReadWaltWhitman’sIHearAmericaSingingandtrytoanalyzehowitissimilartoanddifferentfromI, Too, SingAmericainthetwopoets’ viewsofAmerica, tones, stylesandthemes.
Notes
(1850-1904): Awell-knownAmericansouthernregionalistwomanwriter, bestknownforhershortstoriesandanovel, — theproblemsfacingwomeninasocietythatrepressedthem —madeherliteraryworkshighlypopularinthelatetwentiethcentury.
: French, whichmeansweddinggarments.
: Frenchword, anaffectionatetermmeaning “milkypig”.
: French, meaningnightgown.
: French, meaningasetofclothingandbeddingforanewbornchild.
.(1929-1968): AnAmericanclergyman, activist, , .
(1902-1967): AnAmericanpoet, socialactivist, novelist, playwright, -knownforhisworkduringtheHarlemRenaissance.
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