Veronica Barrera Introduction to Literature December 5, 2001 A World of Equality and Unity The Constitution of the United States proclaims, "All men are created equal." It took a great war, blood, tears and heartache to grant black Americans equal rights as citizens of this country. Unfortunately, equality and unity among Americans was not evident even during the 1920's. Black and white Americans were said to be equal, but they were not; black Americans were not treated with respect. Segregation among blacks and whites was part of everyday life. Different restrooms, water fountains and entrances into public buildings kept black and white people apart. Built-up anger and frustrations of hardworking black Americans began to surface during the 1920's. It was an age of expression through music and words--known to all as the Harlem Renaissance. Jazz, the blues and poetry exploded onto the scene. It was an outlet for those who wanted to speak out against segregation and society. The Harlem Renaissance gave birth to several remarkable poets. One of the most renowned of his time was Langston Hughes. He was responsible for a great number of momentous poems about the injustices suffered by black Americans. "I, Too, Sing America" is among his most coveted works. Hughes wrote this poem about blacks who lived during this difficult time in American history. Citizens of the same country did not share the same civil laws. "I, Too, Sing America," is a classic work with an optimistic mood and poetic diction that conveys the poem's theme of unity and equality. A positive mood in the face of racism and oppression is apparent throughout the poem. In the first verse, the speaker is sent away from the kitchen when company comes to visit, but he replies that despite this treatment he will live on, "And eat well, And grow strong" (Hughes 6, 7). Hughes successfully portrays the speaker in this poem as a black American male who will rise above and prosper. Optimism echoes through his laughter and reinforces the positive thinking that has carried him through the difficulties of discrimination, according to Donald Gibson (258). The speaker truly believes there will be an end to prejudice convictions and racial barriers. He has confidence things will change for the better and all will live in harmony. Optimism is the one thing that keeps him going. It is what helps him endure all the deplorable injustices that have been bestowed upon him and his ancestors. The black man knows someday in the future all will be treated equally and discrimination will die. He has faith the white man will feel ashamed of their actions and, "They'll see how beautiful I am" (Hughes 16). The belief that white Americans will accept blacks into society and treat them like real citizens is a powerful incentive to succeed in life. He proclaims that everyone is a part of America. Everyone is human, and "I, too, am America" (18). The speaker is pronouncing that everyone, black and white, deserves the same civil laws, and he demands that as an American he gets them. Unity and equality will conquer discrimination and bigotry. Mood is not the only element that supports the theme of the poem. It is Hughes' use of diction that sculpts the poem into a classic. The speaker, for example, of "I, Too, Sing America," is obviously not an individual; his is a collective "I" (Gibson 258). This "I" gives the poem strength and unity. In the first stanza, the speaker confidently states, "But I laugh," (5) and this use of diction draws a mental picture of a group of people enjoying themselves. The Laughter is shared among equals in unison. It does not specify a particular individual as the oppressed. Instead it offers a voice to anyone who has felt discriminated against by society. In lines eight and nine the speaker says, "Tomorrow, I'll be at the table"; this provides a sense of unity. It is a coming together of races at the table and under one land--America. Equality is achieved when black Americans are invited to eat at the same table as white Americans. Hughes contributed a great deal to literature during the Harlem Renaissance. Gwendolyn Brooks states that Hughes loved to write about black Americans: "He wanted to record their strengths, their resiliency, courage, humor" (509). He acknowledged the problems of racial issues and voiced that all people living in America should be considered Americans. The color of one's skin should not matter because all are created equal. His poetry touched the hearts of many Americans and helped to open the door to a better future. A future without discrimination and segregation and a world of equality and unity was the ideal for all black Americans. Sources Cited Brooks, Gwendolyn. "Langston Hughes." Contemporary Literary Criticisms. Vol. 44. Detroit: Hall, 1986. 509-10. Gibson, Donald. "Langston Hughes." Poetry Criticisms. Vol. 1. London: Young, 1991. 258-59. Hughes, Langston. "I, Too, Sing America." Nov. 2001 <http://www.poets.org/poems/ poems.cfm?prmID=1479>. |