by Oscar Wellington

Created on: July 10, 2009

Langston Hughes's "I, Too" is an empowering piece that calls for equality in a superb way. Rather than meandering around, asking for support, Hughes attacks his readers head on and demands it, which is a great method for not only getting his point across, but for bolstering his own piece.

The opening line of this poem: "I, too, sing America" (1) signifies an attempt for equality. The line commits that Hughes is on just as equal footing as everyone else, and despite any of his supposed shortcomings, he "sings" just as any other person in America. Singing in this case doesn't have to represent melody or song, but just the ability to have a voice in the world, and thus Hughes is not asking for his beliefs and opinions to be heard, but explaining that they will be heard, regardless of those who don't want to hear them.

The poem then has its first stanza, which details how Hughes is treated unequally: "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" (2-7). If guests arrive at wherever Hughes is situated, he is "sent" to eat in the kitchen, rather than at the table with guests. However, rather than see this as a downside, Hughes views it as empowerment. After all, the person who eats in the kitchen has a greater selection to choose from (the food is right there, rather than the portions being brought to the dinner table), and thus Hughes will eat his fill, all the while laughing at the idiocy of those who think they are hurting him.

In the second stanza, Hughes explains how eating in the kitchen will help him further: "Tomorrow, / I'll be at the table / When company comes. / Nobody'll dare / Say to me, / 'Eat in the kitchen,'/ Then" (8-14). All this time that Hughes has been eating in the kitchen has paid off, and he now has the capability to eat at the dinner table. Again, Hughes takes something that is meant to treat him with inequality and rather than being hurt by it, he actually uses it as a weapon to bolster himself.

The last four lines end this poem, as well as Hughes's message: "Besides, / They'll see how beautiful I am / And be ashamed - / I, too, am, America" (15-18). Not only will Hughes be "beautiful" because he has grown so well by eating in the kitchen (that is, using inequality as a benefit), but he will also be "beautiful" for standing up to the idea that he "has to" eat in the kitchen. Moreover, the people who told Hughes to eat in the kitchen will be "ashamed" at just "how beautiful" Hughes has become, as well as ashamed at their mistake and treatment of him.

Overall, this is an excellent piece that showcases a brilliant way to deal with inequality. Written during the time of mass racism and inequality within America, this piece speaks truly and offers a lot to readers.

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