Langston Hughes has written this poem from Afro-American perspectives. It first appeared in 1926 in the collection entitled The Weary Blues .This poem is also known as “I Too sings America”. There was a time when African Americans were not considered as citizens of America because of their color. It was known as racial segregation. African American people suffered a lot because they too loved America more than their life. It was misunderstood that they represented America as well as Africa but the reality was that they always loved America but refused to hate Africa. This poem speaks a lot about the anguish of a man who is African American and who is denied to come in front of people to say loudly that he too sing America. The first few lines of the poem are-
“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.
In the above mentioned lines the man who is African American says that he too sing America although he is of dark complexion. His patriotism is not matching his skin color. This is one of the reasons that when the company comes he is not allowed to confront them. He is sent in the kitchen to eat. He laughs at this denial and says that he is growing stronger by eating well. This affirmation shows his will power that he is a true American. In the next few lines he says that-
Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.
These lines reflect optimism. The poet is telling us about the belief of African Americans that one day their patriotism will be recognized when nobody will dare to command them to go in the kitchen and eat lonely. This sense of tomorrow is the actual strength of a man. The poet understands it and makes the reader aware that we should not leave hope in our life. There is always a better tomorrow which can hide our anguish. In the concluding lines the poet says that-
Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—
I, too, am America.
In these lines the poet affirms that a day will come when African Americans will be seen with a new insight. Their beauty will also be recognized because he too sings America. In this poem history is evoked that there was a day when darker people were treated as citizens in America. They were not allowed to sit together with Native Americans. In this poem the African American man feels the pain of alienation. He says that there are no ways to show his patriotism but a day will come when he’ll be given equal rights.
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