“I, Too Sing America” by Langston Hughes Essay

Poem I, withal Sing the States is considered to be very distinction for radical poetry of Langston Hughes. The majority of literary critiques and historians refer to Hughes as one(a) of the first Ameri apprise poets, who mark the standards and examples how to ch onlyenge the post-World War I ethnic realmalism. His poetry contri stilled and shaped to some extent the politics of the Harlem Renaissance. In analysis of Black poetry Charles S. Johnson wrote that the new racial poetry of the Negro is the way of something more than experimentation in a new technique it marks the birth of a new racial awareness and self-conception. It is first of all a frank acceptance of race, but the recognition of this difference without the usual implications of variety (145). Being acquainted with many Hughess works, for instance Our Land, The Negro Speaks of Rivers, and of course I, Too Sing the States, Johnson affirm that poet had a strong sense of race pride and characterized Hughess poetr y to be without doubt the finest expression of this new Negro Poetry (145).Some literary critiques refer to Hughess poem I Too Sing America as radical poetry. However, if in this poem Hughes chose to sacrifice nontextual matteristry for politics, it was not because the dickens are mutually exclusive. The main reason for such Hughess technique is that the blues aesthetic of his archaeozoic poems embraced a form of nationalism he could no longitudinal abide (147). Hughes himself concludes that the chief responsibility of the inexorable writer was to produce a racial literature drawn from African American life and culture. We junior Negro artists who create, Hughes wrote, now intend to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame (309).Onwuchekwa Jemie, who determine Hughes as a black nationalist, notes that Hughess insistence on a distinct black art is a recognition of the fact that Afro-Americans are a distinct people within the American nation (103). The refore, I, Too creates a feeling of an individual versus a large group enhancing the loneliness felt. The poem recognizes an true inequality African Americans felt during a time period of racial discrimination. Hughes recognizes that although different in color, all people living in America were Americans and deserved to be treated not just equally, but with dignity and honor. Therefore, he poetically forecasts the trends America experienced in 1960s when the equal status of blacks was nominal.Hughes is not known for using lots of symbolism. His poetry is generally straight forward and to the point. There is not lots hidden meaning in his poetry either. What little symbolism he does use is very deep. It can be interpreted in a many number of ways. I Too Sing America has psychological and cultural references such as intergroup stereotyping, communication, cooperation, and conflict. Moreover, it sounds like a slogan, appeal to immediate action. Therefore he hides his radicalism in ve ry title of the poem, which is not a poem at a closer mien but a song. It is very crucial to perceive I Too Sing America as a song, emotional, radical, political, but still focused on black aesthetics.The poem is about the hope of one day being equal it is expressed in each stanza at least once.I prankAnd eat wellAnd gain strong.These lines represent hope along with determination. It also gives us insight to the movement that Hughes uses in all his poetry. He uses humor in most of his writing to convey his message. What the laugh represents is his thoughts of the future. I laugh They leave behind laugh, and will be happy. Moreover, laugh means that hell be able to project back.Eating is another interesting symbol. Most probably it represents learning and companionship. Without knowledge one cannot further themselves in life or make themselves better. Eating well means to learn well and retain the knowledge. developing strong represents the retaining of the knowledge. Not onl y does this mean to grow strong with knowledge but for the voices of equality to grow stronger. The biggest use of symbolism is the last line I, too, am America. In Walt Whitmans poem I experience America singing the American people are just the working class, Anglo Saxons. The line I, too,am America shouts out that someone was forgotten, an poetic echo of many years of oppression and discrimination. Whom are you are expiration to oppress. Hughess answer is yourself. People oppressed themselves yesterday, are oppressing today, but will not tomorrow. Tomorrow will come and no one will be neglected.The psychological and cultural references are not as blatantly placed as the symbolism. The darker brother represents the black man trough a metaphor. In ships political party darkness is used to symbolize evil. Poet employs such a term not accidentally. Placing dark, Hughes emphasizes term black. Eating in the kitchen represents repression. Most Kitchens are hidden much like the suffe ring of African Americans. They were hidden from the company the company can be interpreted as a metaphor for foreign countries, or people in general. Most American people were blind to the horror and brutality of slavery. Slavery was also psychological, that is why the knowledge is important. Before one can rise up, one must first discover what it is they are locomote up against.TomorrowIll be at the tableWhen company comesNobodyll dare swear to me,Eat in the kitchen,Then.Above lines show that dark brothers make believe learned and will no longer be held down. It also shows the strength of their voices that no one will challenge any longer. It describes the future and the prehistoric using the kitchen as theworld. The best realization is made at the end of the poemBesides,Theyll see how pleasing I amAnd be ashamed.Poet employs contrast technique to put a parallel between tremendous black today and beautiful dark brother of tomorrow, making a transparent window finished past t o future. Captive Negro waits for tomorrow beauty and finally he will be rewarded for his exertion and sufferings. In these last words, as many analysts believe, Hughes makes an emphasis on black culture, its terrific features and diversity. Rampersad writes, through the disclose of black sensitivity, intelligence, and artistic versatility, it was believed, whites would come to a new understanding of the humanity of African Americans and help to speed social change (16). If anything were going to convince a white America of the humanity and equality of blacks, it would have to be culture, that realm where human beings differentiate themselves from the savage and aspire to the divine.BibliographyJohnson, Charles S. Jazz and Blues. Critical Essays on Langston Hughes. Ed. Edward J. Mullen. capital of Massachusetts Hall, 1986.Onwuchekwa, Jemie. Hughess Black Esthetic. Critical Essays on Langston Hughes. Ed. Edward J. Mullen. Boston Hall, 1986.Rampersad, Arnold. Introduction. The New Negro. Ed. Alain Locke. New York Atheneum 1992.Hughes L. Good forenoon Revolution Uncollected Writings of Langston Hughes. Ed. Faith Berry. New York Carol Publishing Group, 1992. 159-61.