“I, Too Sing America” by Langston Hughes Essay

Poem I, in addition spill the States is considered to be very characteristic for radical poesy of Langston Hughes. The majority of literary critiques and historians refer to Hughes as one of the first the Statesn poets, who set the standards and examples how to repugn the post-World War I ethnic nationalism. His poetry contri provideded and shaped to some close 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 expression of something more than experimentation in a new technique it marks the birth of a new racial consciousness and self-conception. It is first of all a frank acceptance of race, but the recognition of this difference without the usual implications of disparity (145). Being acquainted with many Hughess works, for instance Our Land, The Negro Speaks of Rivers, and of course I, Too Sing America, Johnson sustain that poet had a well-set sense of race pride and characterized Hugh ess poetry to be without doubt the finest expression of this new Negro Poetry (145). more or less literary critiques refer to Hughess poem I Too Sing America as radical poetry. However, if in this poem Hughes chose to sacrifice prowess for politics, it was not because the two atomic number 18 mutually exclusive. The main reason for overmuch(prenominal) Hughess technique is that the blues aesthetic of his early poems embraced a rule of nationalism he could no longer abide (147). Hughes himself concludes that the chief business of the black-market writer was to produce a racial literature pull from African American life and culture. We younger Negro artists who create, Hughes wrote, now fix to express our individual macabre-skinned selves without fear or shame (309).Onwuchekwa Jemie, who place 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 natio n (103). Therefore, I, Too creates a feeling of an individual versus a large group enhancing the solitude felt. The poem recognizes an actual in tallyity African Americans felt during a while period of racial discrimination. Hughes recognizes that although different in color, all people animateness in America were Americans and deserved to be treated not solely 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 gobs of symbolism. His poetry is generally straight forward and to the point. There is not much mystic 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 mental and cultural references such as intergroup stereotyping, communication, cooperation, and conflict. Moreover, it sounds like a slogan, appeal to warm action. Therefore he hides his radicalism in very title of the poem, which is not a poem at a closer look 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 jokeAnd eat wellAnd grow strong.These lines represent hope along with de bournination. It similarly gives us insight to the style that Hughes uses in all his poetry. He uses wittiness in most of his writing to convey his message. What the put-on represents is his thoughts of the future. I laugh They impart laugh, and will be happy. Moreover, laugh means that hell be able to look back.Eating is another interesting symbol. Most belike it represents learning and knowledge. Without knowledge one cannot further themselves in life or make themselves better. Eating well means to learn well and reserve the knowledge. Growing strong represents the retaining of the knowledge. N ot only does this mean to grow strong with knowledge but for the voices of equality to grow stronger. The biggest use of symbolism is the lowest line I, too, am America. In Walt Whitmans poem I project America singing the American people are just the operative class, Anglo Saxons. The line I, too,am America shouts out that someone was forgotten, an poetic take over of many years of oppression and discrimination. Whom are you are going 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 set(p) as the symbolism. The darker brother represents the black man trough a metaphor. In society 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 suffering of African Americans. They were hidden from the participation the company can be interpreted as a metaphor for unusual countries, or people in general. Most American people were contrivance to the horror and brutality of slavery. Slavery was also psychological, that is why the knowledge is important. originally one can rise up, one must first trace what it is they are rising up against.TomorrowIll be at the tableWhen company comesNobodyll dareSay to me,Eat in the kitchen,Then.Above lines show that dark brothers have 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 foregone using the kitchen as theworld. The trounce realization is made at the end of the poemBesides,Theyll see how beauteous I amAnd be ashamed.Poet employs contrast technique to put a parallel between ugly black today and beautiful dark brother of tomorrow, making a transparent window through past to future. C aptive Negro waits for tomorrow beauty and finally he will be rewarded for his patience and sufferings. In these last words, as many analysts believe, Hughes makes an tension on black culture, its terrific features and diversity. Rampersad writes, through the display of black sensitivity, intelligence, and esthetical versatility, it was believed, uninfecteds would come to a new understanding of the charitableity of African Americans and swear out to accelerate 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. Introductio n. The impertinently Negro. Ed. Alain Locke. New York Atheneum 1992.Hughes L. Good Morning Revolution Uncollected Writings of Langston Hughes. Ed. organized religion Berry. New York Carol Publishing Group, 1992. 159-61.