Compare And Contrast Frederick Douglass And I Too

African Americans have felt oppressed for several years, beginning from when they were slaves in America and even when they became free citizens. Two pieces of literature which clearly explicate how African Americas they felt when they were persecuted are I, Too by Langston Hughes and Frederick Douglas by Robert Hayden. While Hayden portrays that attaining freedom is inevitable and pays tribute to Frederick Douglas for helping African Americans attain freedom, Hughes clearly portrays that African Americans have hope for that racial equality will be established one day.
The poem Frederick Douglas by Robert Hayden mainly focuses on Frederick Douglas’ fight in order to help all African Americans to achieve freedom and the struggle of obtaining

freedom. The stance, “this man, this Douglas, this former slave, this Negro…” accentuates the importance of Douglas and shows that he is not a mere ordinary man. Hayden exhibits the numerous sufferings which Douglas had to endure for the sake of winning the freedom of African Americans. The phrase “beaten to his knees, exiled, visioning a world where none is lonely, none is hunted” assists to show that Douglas had to suffer and struggle quite a load in order to attain freedom. The stance containing alliteration, “love and logic,” clearly reveals that Douglas was a man who was rational and loved all African Americans so much that he underwent so many burdens for the sake of their freedom. Hayden believed that Douglas wanted freedom for all so badly that he did whatever was necessary in order to achieve it. While Hayden explains the great hardships that were endured for the sake of freedom, he still describes freedom as a “beautiful” and a “needful” thing. While it is an attractive aspect, freedom also is flawed for it is “needful to man as air.” Freedom is therefore a “beautiful and terrible thing.” This poem is constructed primarily with free verses which helps the poem run smoothly and freely, symbolizing the sensation of freedom. Hence it is obvious that Hayden believed what Douglas did for the freedom African Americans was a noble and admirable thing to do and understood that freedom was foreseeable for all in the future.
The poem I, Too by Langston Hughes focuses on a an African American who is convinced that he will treated as an equal to whites one day.

This work of literature begins with the narrator asserting that he also could “sing America,” signifying his love for America even though he is the “darker brother” who doesn’t have the same privileges as the lighter brothers. The first line indicates that the speaker is indeed patriotic to America even though he isn’t a lighter brother. The speaker continues to explain that because he is a darker brother, he must only eat in the kitchen and isn’t allowed to sit at the table. This suggests that the time period is during the time of racial segregation. Although he isn’t allowed to sit at the table or has to eat in the kitchen, the speaker doesn’t become gloomy, but instead becomes hopeful that change will come. He doesn’t criticize the lighter brothers, but rather is determined and positive that things will change soon. The speaker is hopeful that “tomorrow” he too will be seated at the table and won’t have to eat in the kitchen. He is optimistic in that others will see that he is also “beautiful” and will become ashamed. This poem is also formed with free verses, which signify that this poem is also attempting to symbolize the impression of freedom with the poem running freely. Hence it is clear that Hughes believes that racial equality is certain and has hope that it will come

soon.
Both I, Too, by Langston Hughes, and Frederick Douglas, by Robert Hayden, explicate the hope and anticipation that African Americans will achieve freedom or racial equality in the near future. While Hayden praises Frederick Douglas in his poem, he also portrays that freedom for the African Americans is inevitable due to the severe struggles faced. Hughes explicates that although there is racial segregation, he has great hope that racial equality will be established “tomorrow.” Hence both poems explain the importance of the freedom of African Americans.