Langston Hughes
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The tone of Langston Hughes ” I, Too” is crucial when reading this form of lyrical poetry. Langston Hughes did a lot of his writing during the Harlem Renaissance era, which was during the 1920s in Harlem, New York. There is a harsh but liberating that evokes one mans stance in his quest to be respected in America in the poem “I Too”. In The Poem “I, Too” Langston Hughes uses racial issues to discuss achieving racial equality and respect in America.
Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. He was raised by his maternal grandmother after his father, James Nathaniel Hughes abandoned his mother, Carrie Langston Hughes. Throughout his career as a professional writer, he remained true to his African American Heritage. His poetry echoed the voice of ordinary African Americans, and always contained racial themes and racial issues in America, particularly black and white race relations.
The poem is “I, Too” is a lyrical poem, becuause it is fairly short. Taking what is known about Langston Hughes and his writings, its clear that the poem really evokes his emotions towards his place at the American table. In the first stanza lines 2-4, “I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in kitchen when company comes,”. The author is setting the overall mood of the poem. The mood is prejudice and racist towards a fellow American citizen. He is impling that he is the darker American brother, who shames the White American brother. Lines 8-10 in the second stanza, “Tomorrow, Ill be at that table when company comes.” The writer speaks of a future where he will overcome the adversity that African Americans face. The last stanza lines 15-17, “Besides, theyll see how beautiful I
am and be ashamed”. The poet says when the future comes, and when his status in the country is that of the round table. It will be the white American who is ashamed when the beauty of an equally capable a African American is standing so elegantly in line with the ideals that America was founded on.
In concluding, it is obvious in the poem “I, Too” that Langston Hughes uses racial issues to discuss achieving racial equality in America. No matter who you are or where you come from. You have a right to sit at the table in America. All men where created equal and