Langston Hughes Group

Question:

raj1
raj1
Student

What does his poem men I, too?

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Posted by raj1 on Saturday November 29, 2008 at 9:55 AM and tagged with english literature.

Answers:


  1. sgilmore8 Teacher
    Elementary / Primary

    This poem written by Langston Hughes means many things.  It means the struggle that African Americans went through, the unequal treatment and how whites thought that we were inferior to them.  It also means that he looks towards the future knowing that things will change which is wholly relevant to our new President Elect Obama who is all about change and growth. 

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    Posted by sgilmore8 on Sunday November 30, 2008 at 7:12 AM

  2. bnking
    bnking Student
    College - Sophomore

    Langston Hughes was a very notable writer during his time in portraying the lives of blacks. His jazz-inspired works told of blacks’ ongoing dealings with racial un-equality and the constant pursuit of the American dream for everyone. Langston Hughes’ “I Too” is a poem about how he sees himself, and how the whites see him. In this particular poem, Hughes is always looking forward to tomorrow, the day he knows is brighter. He says that today he is sent to the kitchen to eat when the company comes, but tomorrow, he will be at the table when the company comes and no one will have to tell him to go to the kitchen to eat. Not everyone is in support of new president B.O. so this would be the real answer to your question.

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    Posted by bnking on Tuesday December 9, 2008 at 2:31 PM


  3. frizzyperm Teacher
    College - Senior

    bnking "Not everyone is in support of new president B.O. so this would be the real answer to your question."

    Why is your answer more 'real' than Squilmore8's? Why is saying the poem and Obama are both about hope and change for the black community? If Mr Hughes could have seen Barak's election he would have danced for a week shouting, "I knew it! I was right! I told you so!"

    The poem is a hymn of hope for dignified change. It was written by a man who was not free but said,

    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.

    Try telling Barak to take his butt into the kitchen! The man's got the most desirable dinner-table in the world! Every leader, business-man or person of influence wants to sit at Barack's dinner-table now. He's the man. And (I really really hope) people will see how beautiful he is. And they will be ashamed of the sneering feelings of false superiority. This poem and Barak's election are deeply similar.

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    Posted by frizzyperm on Thursday December 11, 2008 at 7:41 AM