I Too by Langston Hughes

The poem I Too by Langston Hughes depicts racism experienced in America during the
poet’s time. Hughes shows how white people fail to allow black people a pscae at the symbolic
and real table in the poem. However, I, Too, demonstrate the words of the speaker trying to show
that he is equal despite his skin color. He, too, deserves recognition and that it is just a matter of
time, and everyone will appreciate the real strength of black people. The poem is set in ancient
America and provides the country’s history relating to racism. The paper explores the setting and
demonstrates how the poem has a sad mood.
The poem’s setting is in a house in America, where members of a family live. The
members are of mixed race, with some being white and others black. This is evident as the
speaker says, “I am the darker brother” (Hughes, 2020/1926). This line shows that skin color is
important in distinguishing people. There are differences in how people are treated, and this is
founded on race. The speaker, who is dark, is isolated when visitors come. He says,” they send
me to eat in the kitchen when company comes’ (Hughes, 2020/1926). The implication is that
they do not want to share a table with him.
The speaker, though black, recognizes himself as American. He says, “I, too, sing
America; the words in this line are an inspiration from Walt Whitman’s poem, I Hear America
Singing (Whitman, 2017). The song referred to in Whitman’s poem is sung by diverse people,
farmers, workers, men, industrial laborers, and women. However, in this poem, the song is not
sung by black people as Whitman did not envision an American society comprising of back
people. The speaker in the poem writes a response to Whitman, indicating that black people will
too take part in the American song.

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The mood of the poem is sad as it shows a segregated individual. The mood is sad at the
beginning as the speaker depicts his experiences in a mixed-race family. The family here is
symbolic of American society. The same way the poem feels isolated in his own home is the
same way black people felt isolated in America.
The speaker is hopeful later in the poem and even declares that despite the segregation,
he will “eat,” “laugh,” and “grow strong” (Hughes, 2020/1926). The aim is to grow strong and
claim their place at the table. After that, white people will no longer send the black people away,
nor will they ignore their presence and contributions within society. The speaker asserts, “they
will see how beautiful I am.” Here, he implies that he will prove his worth in society and will no
longer be excluded.
Overall, the poem depicts a history of America that was characterized by racism and
segregation of black people. It also shows a resolve by the black community to fight for
recognition. They do so by working on themselves so that it becomes impossible to ignore them.
When the speaker says that he too can sing, he implies that he can take part in society and make
contributions just like any other person. Although the poem starts off with a sad mood, towards
the end, the speaker is hopeful that things will soon change. He looks forward to a time when no
one will be viewed as a lesser human and where the race will no longer be a tool of segregation.

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References
Hughes, L. (2020/1926). I, Too. American Literature.
Whitman, W. (2017). I hear America singing. Poetry Foundation.