I, Too Summary & Analysis (Langston Hughes)

About Poem-I, Too

Poem Title	I, Too
Author	Langston Hughes
Genre	Lyrical poem
Publication date	1926
Speaker	A Black American
Setting	America during the Harlem Renaissance
Subject	The speaker’s affirmation of their dignity and belonging as a Black American
Themes	Racial identity, belonging, pride, resilience

I, Too Poem

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.

I, Too Summary & Analysis

I, Too is a thought-provoking and powerful poem by Langston Hughes that addresses the theme of racial injustice and the African American experience in the United States. The poem is often seen as a response to Walt Whitman’s “I Hear America Singing” and speaks to the marginalized and oppressed voices of African Americans in the early 20th century.

Stanza 1: The first stanza introduces the poem’s speaker, who proclaims, “I, too, sing America.” This declaration signifies the speaker’s identification with the American experience, despite the discrimination and segregation faced by African Americans. The speaker acknowledges that they are a part of the nation’s identity, despite being marginalized.

Stanza 2: In the second stanza, the speaker describes being sent to the kitchen when there are guests in the house. This situation symbolizes the segregation and exclusion African Americans faced during the era, where they were relegated to the background, unseen and unheard. Despite this, the speaker reveals that they, too, eat well and grow strong.

Stanza 3: The third stanza continues to depict the speaker’s exclusion from the mainstream American experience. They are described as “tomorrow,” signifying that their exclusion is a temporary state. The speaker believes that one day, their presence at the table will be recognized and acknowledged.

Stanza 4: The final stanza of the poem is a strong proclamation of the speaker’s determination and hope. They declare that “I’ll be at the table when company comes,” expressing their conviction that, eventually, African Americans will no longer be excluded or marginalized. The poem concludes with the powerful assertion that “nobody’ll dare say to me, ‘Eat in the kitchen,'” emphasizing the speaker’s confidence in a future where racial discrimination and segregation will no longer be tolerated.

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