Deonte Foxx

Professor Jacobs

Eng. 132

October 31, 2017

Literary analysis Poem :Poem: I,tooI, too

In Langston Hughes i,too tThe speaker claims that he is American . He is the darker Formatted: Indent: First line: 0.5"

brother who is sent to eat in the kitchen when there are guests visiting. However, he does laugh

and he eats well and grows bigger and stronger. Tomorrow, he will sit at the table when the

guests come, and no one will dare to tell him to eat in the kitchen. They will see his beauty and

be ashamed, for, as he claims, I, too, am America.

LangstonsAmerica Langstons Hughes uses Tone and Symbolism in I,too to discuss how the

darker brother doesnt get treated right how we everyone would like to .

Hughes wrote "I, Too" from the perspective of an African American man or either a

slave or maybeeven maybe a free man in the Jim Crow South era . era. The tone in this poem is

one of self-pride. He is treated as if he is an embarrassment to the white people, and made to him

have a lot of hatred toward them But he is also made to feel stronger within hiswithin his race

as well due to the dark of his skin. Langstons Hughes isHughes is trying to show how America

trys to covers up its racial discrimination problems. From back then to even todays society

From then to even todays society.

 The tone changes throughout the poem. In the first line, the tone is patriotic. The

line, I, too, sing America, indicates the national anthem, and symbolizes unity throughout the

nation. In the next stanza, the tone is of anger and strength. The man is enraged at how he is

treated, but he knows he is strong enough to fight back. This is shown in the line, But I laugh,/, /

and eat well, Andand grow strong. Basically he lets the world know that no matter how you

treat me I have self-pride .pride.

The American Flag was the symbol in the poem. Langston Hughes used the flag as the symbol

because it shows that African Americans will one day be equal and have their place at the table

in America. Hughes also used the table as the symbol to represent having a voice and the

meaning to speak out and have your opinion heard and valued. By being at the table, he is also

saying that African American will have a voice and not be forced to hide anything in the dark

any longer.

Tomorrow ,Tomorrow, Ill be at the table when company comes and thats when I said Formatted: Indent: First line: 0.5"

the table represented as a symbol by him having a voice and opinion should be heard and valued

. valued. Because at first theyll send him in the kitchen and eat in there when company comes

but he gets upset but uses laughing to cover up his pain with but doesnt and dont want to eat in

the kitchen when company is around . around. So hell be at the table and dare someone to say

something to him like eat in the kitchen but he will have something to say and want to be

heard and want them to be ashamed.

I,TooI, Too, Sing America the discrimination American flag was a symbol because

hes an American citizen, but as a African American he isnt being treated fairly like one.

Slavery was big, and African Americans were house slaves and kept in the kitchen while white
slave owners came over. He feels like he is aparta part of America and a country that should be

equal and freedom.

The poem I, Too, is a poem about discrimination. Through the unjust actions done to Formatted: Indent: First line: 0.5"

the man, the reader isreader is shown how to unequal privilege and decision making

powermaking power is in American society. However, also through the mans strength and

bravery, the reader can see hope in the world- hope that one day all people will be equal. The

poets use of great imagery and sound helped to make this poem an effective anti- discrimination

poem. Also, the struggle of a working minority, a black man, suffering the hardship of unfair

labor. Langston Hughes gives out such a real and positive impact on the poem, and which makes

readers them think about how readers they can hope for the future.future. He takes it as they

arent showing him love but they are embarrassed of him but he is looking forward for better

days He doesnt take slavery personal and hopes for tomorrow and he knows that tomorrow will

be better and believes that slavery will be stopped and everybody come as one.