During the Harlem Renaissance, both Claude McKay and Langston Hughes developed an analysis of their time period through poetry. Each writer has a different poem but allude to the same theme. The White House by Claude McKay and I, Too, Sing, America by Langston Hughes makes a relevant comparison to the racial inequality during the 1900s. Both make a point about how White America has withheld equal rights from Blacks or Black America, making it hard for them to survive. More specifically, The White House speaks about the type of oppression being experienced during racial segregation and trying to triumph over it while I, Too, Sing, America speak about what created their oppression and envisioning change in the future.
During the 1900s, many African Americans experienced the effects of racial segregation but they still had hope, their oppression did not stop their belief for future change. In “I, Too, Sing, America”, Langston Hughes has makes it clear that he envisions change. In the beginning of the poem, he speaks of being treated differently than others in his home, making it hard to live equally. Hughes writes, “I am the darker brother, they send me to eat in the kitchen when company comes” (Line). He chooses to discuss this issue because his darker shade of skin in comparison to the other residents in his home, makes it possible for him to eat separately so that he will not be seen by the guests; this depicts segregation in his home due to race. Because of the racial conflicts that Hughes experiences, he hopes that there is some form of change in the future, where he can sit equally with others. He goes on to write, “Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table when company comes, nobody’ll dare say to me, eat in the kitchen “(Line). Hughes...
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...xperienced about not being able to eat at the table when guests would come which refers to how White America has been treating Black America. He then comes to the conclusion that this too shall pass and believes that he will be able to overcome his oppression. McKay portrays his experiences by speaking in a more mature tone about the significant events that have occurred and tries to find a way to tolerate the oppression. He lets White America know that what they have done to Black America was wrong. He shows that even though white America has alienated African Americans and treated them with disrespect, he will not stoop to their level although he is angry about it. The writers make it clear that their poems may differ yet they hold the same meaning of that White America has wronged Black America but it shall pass and in the future they will regret their actions.
Walter is experiencing racial identity when he is talking to Mama telling her that “Them white boys talking [a] bout’ deals worth millions” (Hansberry - 87). Walter is jealous of businessmen who have more money than he will ever have. He is beaten by the fact that men his age have a higher chance of success because of the color of their skin. This quote shows how African-Americans were seen in the 1950’s. “I, Too” is a poem by Hughes. It is about a slave who cannot eat at the so-called “dinner table” because of the color of his skin. The narrator saying that “[He’s] the darker brother” (Line 2). This quote sums up the rest of the poem and how it relates to Walter, and how African-Americans were treated with disrespect. All in all, racial identities appear both in
This poem is often compared to Walt Whitman’s I Hear America Singing because of the similarities of the two poems. In this poem, Hughes argues that the African American race is equal to whites. Hughes even declares that one day the African American race will be equal to whites. Hughes proclaims, “Besides, They’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed-I, too, am America.” Hughes was very bold and daring when he wrote these lines in this poem. He is implying that the white people will regret what they have done to blacks. That they will be ashamed of how they treated them. Undoubtedly, this poem expresses Hughes cultural identity.
In “Dear White America”, Smith discusses the current problems that the United States of America have. He says: “[…] ‘why does it always have to be about race?’ Because you made it that way! […]” (5) This example can be related to the “All Lives Matter” movement which went against the “Black Lives Matter” saying that everyone’s life matters. Which is true, but the Black Lives Matter movement was not created to make themselves more important than other races. It was created to say that they need to matter because nobody seems to care about what is going on to them. ”, As for “I, Too”, Langston Hughes talks about how he’s also American and how he’s also a human just like the other’s even though he’s not seen as equal due to his skin color. He says: “I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen. When company comes,” (2) He’s referring to white Americans sending him away when visit comes to the house. This leads us to believe that he’s not welcomed to sit with them due to his skin color which is extremely
In the line “I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen” (Hughes 2-3) is denial of a particular person due to the pigmentation of their skin. The African American race had to suffer and be treated differently because of one small detail that was out of their control. Many individuals struggled with how they were treated during this time and others let such treatment make them stronger. As seen in the following lines “Nobody’ll dare say to me, “Eat in the kitchen, then.” Hughes illustrates that the narrator is in touch with being the same as everyone else. These lines show that he knows what he deserves and he will stand up for himself. Guilt of being a certain race is not hanging over the narrator’s head unlike many others who feel defeated. This poem stands for those who see themselves equally with the ones that look down upon them. “I, too, am America” is a testament of faith in his countrymen and women to recognize and appreciate the contribution of African-American citizens.” (Lewis) shows that America should be proud of the strong ethnic mix. Hughes possessed optimism for all human beings and took a lot of pride in showing that through his
Another example of Hughes’s constant struggles with racism and his inner and thoughtful response to that is clearly seen when he recalls being denied the right to sit at the same table. His point of view identifies that he was not able to sit at the table because he was an African-American. Yet, he remains very optimistic in not letting his misfortune please what is considered the “white-man” in the poem. Langston Hughes’s states,
“Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.” –Edgar Allan Poe. Poetry is one of the world’s greatest wonders. It is a way to tell a story, raise awareness of a social or political issue, an expression of emotions, an outlet, and last but not least it is an art. Famous poet Langston Hughes uses his poetry as a musical art form to raise awareness of social injustices towards African-Americans during the time of the Harlem Renaissance. Although many poets share similarities with one another, Hughes creatively crafted his poetry in a way that was only unique to him during the 1920’s. He implemented different techniques and styles in his poetry that not only helped him excel during the 1920’s, but has also kept him relative in modern times. Famous poems of his such as a “Dream Deferred,” and “I, Too, Sing America” are still being studied and discussed today. Due to the cultural and historical events occurring during the 1920’s Langston Hughes was able to implement unique writing characteristics such as such as irregular use of form, cultural and historical referenced themes and musical influences such as Jazz and the blues that is demonstrative of his writing style. Langston Hughes use of distinct characteristics such as irregular use of form, cultural and historical referenced themes and musical influences such as Jazz and the blues helped highlight the plights of African-Americans during the Harlem Renaissance Era.
Langston Hughes was probably the most well-known literary force during the Harlem Renaissance. He was one of the first known black artists to stress a need for his contemporaries to embrace the black jazz culture of the 1920s, as well as the cultural roots in Africa and not-so-distant memory of enslavement in the United States. In formal aspects, Hughes was innovative in that other writers of the Harlem Renaissance stuck with existing literary conventions, while Hughes wrote several poems and stories inspired by the improvised, oral traditions of black culture (Baym, 2221). Proud of his cultural identity, but saddened and angry about racial injustice, the content of much of Hughes’ work is filled with conflict between simply doing as one is told as a black member of society and standing up for injustice and being proud of one’s identity. This relates to a common theme in many of Hughes’ poems: that dignity is something that has to be fought for by those who are held back by segregation, poverty, and racial bigotry.
The Harlem Renaissance is considered the Golden Age in African American culture, manifesting in literature, music, stage performance, and art. During that time, two very well known poets, Langston Hughes and Claude McKay had written poems that connect to things that would often occur. The Ballad of the Landlord, by Langston Hughes, described the anger that tenants would experience just trying to get landlords to fix certain things. The Lynching, by Claude McKay, described the horrors that African Americans would have to go through and the sights that the young ones would have to witness and later grow up to become lynchers themselves. The Lynching and The Ballad of the Landlord both demonstrate vivid images of violence, yet have many similarities
Throughout the writing of I, Too Sing America, Langston Hughes used various rhetorical strategies that have made his poem memorable since its creation. For example, the repetition of words like “and”, “when”, and “why”, are seen from beginning to end. The use of repetition in this way produces a pattern that adds a smooth flow to the poem. Also, symbolism is very prominent in this poem. The phrase “eating in the kitchen” symbolizes the oppression African Americans endured during the Harlem Renaissance, when Hughes wrote this poem.
One of the views is from a white man perspective and the other is from a black mans perspective. In the poem “I Hear America Sing” by Walt Whitman, it has many similarities and differences in the theme to “ I Too, Sing America” by Langston Hughes. In “ I Hear America Sing” It talks about a bunch of americans singing at their jobs as if they are in love with what they do and are happy. In “I Too, Sing America” it is about a black man who has to eat in the kitchen when guests are over but he is feed well.
Both poems are having a similar conversation with each other about racial inequality, yet because “I, Too” and “I Hear America Singing” are speaking from two dissimilar perspective; this consequently leads each poem to see America from a different point of view. Langston Hughes has a habit of writing poems where the speaker is
During the Harlem Renaissance, Claude McKay and Langston Hughes were renowned figures that helped to sway the movement to a national level. They wrote many works of literature that brought much attention to the issues that were occurring in the United States. One of those issues that they wrote about was the racism that was discriminating the African-Americans. They both agreed that this racism must end. McKay shows this in his poem “America,” while Hughes wrote the poem titled “Democracy." They were in favor of radical and communistic ideas, which would hurt their image for years to come. Although, they had different opinions on the manner that racism should be fought, McKay and Hughes held the same belief that to end racism against African-Americans, radical moves are needed to be used.
The civil rights movement may have technically ended in the nineteen sixties, but America is still feeling the adverse effects of this dark time in history today. African Americans were the group of people most affected by the Civil Rights Act and continue to be today. Great pain and suffering, though, usually amounts to great literature. This period in American history was no exception. Langston Hughes was a prolific writer before, during, and after the Civil Rights Act and produced many classic poems for African American literature. Hughes uses theme, point of view, and historical context in his poems “I, Too” and “Theme for English B” to expand the views on African American culture to his audience members.
Both authors took a leap by publishing works that criticized their oppressors, a leap that put them each in harm’s way. Each poet was able to inspire and educate in their own way, using their own personal touches; Hughes, working to inform his people and unite them against a common enemy through passionate prose, and McKay, working to ignite the passions of his audience in order to compel them to take a forceful stand. The importance of both perspectives operating in unison cannot be understated. A broader set of perspectives and beliefs about the same issue is effective in inspiring a broader, larger, and more diverse group of readers. The sad image that Hughes creates was most likely effective in reaching even the white Americans who already enjoyed their full freedom, by opening the eyes of whites and other unoppressed races to the plights of early African-Americans. In contrast, McKay’s poem was most likely more effective in rallying African-Americans specifically. The advantage of these (though not greatly) differing messages was immense, and underlines the importance of differing viewpoints, and also inspired different groups of people, in order to bring about a more rapid, and more universally agreed upon change. Against a tyrannical force such as a racist majority, these two viewpoints
Langston Hughes sticks it to Walt Whitman in the next two lines when he states “Eat in the kitchen/ then”. The last two lines of this poem are symbolic of equality. The kitchen in this poem symbolizes the bigger picture of American society and how unequal it is. That is why sitting in a kitchen in this poem is such a huge ordeal. The next two lines are contextually a lot more significant in the landscape of this poem in response to Walt Whitman. The next few lines state “Besides/ They’ll how beautiful I am/ And be ashamed.” This line of the poem is an absolute huge jab at Walt Whitman. What Langston Hughes is telling Walt Whitman is that he indeed he forgot to mention slavery and African Americans in “I Hear America Singing” and if he were alive today he would be ashamed at