I, Too, Sing America by Langston Hughes

Reading Hughes's famous poem again, I'm struck by his ambition and fearlessness. I think his proud, challenging style here echoes Whitman who, along with Carl Sandburg and Paul Laurence Dunbar, were Hughes's major poetic influences. It stuns me to think that this was written--that Hughes faced these issues--just over fifty years ago.


I, Too, Sing America.

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 was born in 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. Through his poetry, fiction and plays he tried to acurately portray the African-American experience in early to mid twentieth century America. He made major contributions to the Harlem Rennaisance, and is known for incorporating jazz influences into his work.