I, Too, Sing America -- Poetry Response #7

"I, Too, Sing America" by Langston Hughes is a simple poem. The idea of it is fairly easy to see; it is about the treatment of African American people in the U.S. Hughes is saying that African American people are part of America too, even if many people don't want to recognize it. Hughes portrays himself as a slave by mentioning being sent to the kitchen when company comes, but he also portrays himself as a part of the family by calling himself a brother and implying that he eats with the family normally.  This shows the in between status of African Americans at the time. The second half of the poem is hopeful. Hughes talks about finally eating with the company. This poem was written in 1925, so I think that Hughes is talking about the Harlem Renaissance. This time period was a time of advancement for many African Americans, and I think that this poem embodies the hopes of African Americans at the time.