Analysis Essay on Langston Hughes

As humans, we often fear those that are different from us. In difficult times we band together with people we consider similar, and we protect ourselves from those we see as foreign. We can be so afraid that we forget to feel basic empathy and compassion for people who are unlike us. The fear of people that are different from us can lead to racism and segregation, as seen in the 1920s when millions of African Americans were separated from others due to their skin color. Poet Langston Hughes captured the injustice of this experience in his deceptively simple poem, "I too". In this poem, Hughes uses structure, metaphors, allusions, and word choice to convey his theme of inclusivity and equality in American society and the importance of persevering in a racist society.

Hughes structures this poem uniquely. Considering Hughes’s background as a Harlem Renaissance leader, he adopts a jazz background for his writings, which connotes the inconsistencies of rhythm and the originality of jazz songs. Hughes' poem did not follow the traditional stanza structure, rhyme scheme, or metrical pattern of the time; the lack of these characteristics represented a physical and metaphorical departure from convention. Hughes writes in a style that differs from what white authors typically use, and he is committed to creative writing in a way that is unrestricted by traditional cultural expectations.

In his poem “I too,” we can see how Hughes employs metaphors to illustrate his views on racism. Hughes, for example, compares American civilization to a table throughout the poem using an extended metaphor. “Tomorrow, I'll sit at the table. /When company comes/Nobody’ll dare/Say to 'Eat in the kitchen,’/Then,” the speaker continues (Hughes lines 8-14). In line eight, Hughes states 'tomorrow' as a reason to persevere in a racist society. In lines nine and ten, he expresses himself through the narrator's declaration that the next time they hold a party, he, too, will "be at the table." In lines eleven and twelve, the speaker commands others respect, and he will have control over what people say and don't say to him in the future. The thirteenth and fourteenth lines demonstrate how inequity presents itself in our daily lives. Because being told to dine in the kitchen symbolizes the bigger issue that the poem addresses. While the table has a literal function, it also helps the speaker to convey his message that he, too, is entitled to an equal place in society.

Hughes employs allusions to communicate his views about racism in the poem. I Hear America Singing by Walt Whitman is mentioned in the title as well as the first line. “I, too, sing America.” Walter Whitman was a well-known poet from New York. He was a humanist who helped to bridge the gap between transcendentalism and realism in his writings by incorporating both principles. Whitman affected Hughes tremendously, inspiring him to change people’s perceptions of his race. When we delve deeper into the poem, we find more allusions. While the speaker may be “the darker brother,” who is often overlooked and excluded from many elements of American society, he is stating that he, too, represents America and deserves an equal footing in society.

Hughes uses clever word choices to express his feelings about racism. Hughes uses a clever hook by saying, “I, too, sing America.” (Hughes line 1) Hughes is declaring his commitment to becoming an active member of the country and contributing to its progress in this brief quote. Next in line seven, the speaker says, “And grow strong" (Hughes line 7). This expression refers to both physical strength and a deeper understanding of how to combat bigotry. The speaker is trying to find a positive in an already terrible situation. As we can see from the quotes, the language of the poem is simple, and informal, yet bold in its message. The speaker of the poem, “the darker brother,” is demanding equality in no uncertain terms. His vocabulary is not the conventional, grandiose language of poetry, yet it is simple. Instead, it sounds like a jazz tune and helps him to express his point in a more intimate, direct manner.

Finally, “I, Too, Sing America’s” primary purpose is to encourage liberty. The speaker draws closer to eventual emancipation and racial equality by refusing to submit to the dreadful powers of slavery and oppression. He looks forward to the day when America’s promise of life and liberty is realized. Hughes could do so by expressing his sentiments through language and structure. He also makes use of metaphors and allusions to express his dissatisfaction with the way he is being treated. This is poetry that may apply to any situation in life. Throughout the poem, there is a message of hope and strength and the beauty of being black.