Too Sing America By Langston Hughes example essay topic

kish ia jones 12104 The voice of one person can send a profound sound into the hearts of people to help liberate one's mind. That profound sound is seen through poetry. The creative structure and style of poetry creates a different form of writing that can either have rhythm, alliteration or have a direct message. In the poem "I Too Sing America", by Langston Hughes had a significant message in that he desired to voice his expression on the issue of black oppression in America. Langston basic themes focused on the American Dream and the possibilities of hope and advancement were constantly present in his poetry. The tension between the unrealized dream and the realities of the black experience in America provided this insight to the black world.

Langston Hughes undoubtedly saw himself first and foremost as a poet and consistently devoted himself to the art of poetry for all of his adult life. Born in Joplin, Missouri, James Langston Hughes was a member of an abolitionist family. He was the great-great-grandson of Charles Henry Langston, brother of John Mercer Langston, who was the first Black American to be elected to public office, in 1855. Hughes attended Central High School in Cleveland, Ohio, but began writing poetry in the eighth grade, and was selected as class poet. His father didn't think he would be able to make a living at writing, and encouraged him to pursue a more realistic career. Hughes tried to study engineering at Columbia University, but lost interest and continued to develop his poetry.

His first published poem was also one of his most famous, 'The Negro Speaks of Rivers', and it appeared in Brownie's Book. In 1923, Hughes traveled abroad on to Senegal, Nigeria, the Cameroons, Belgium Congo, Angola, and Guinea in Africa, and later to Italy and France, Russia and Spain. One of his favorite pastimes whether abroad or in Washington, D.C. or Harlem, New York was sitting in the clubs listening to blues, jazz and writing poetry. Later, his poems, short plays, essays and short stories appeared in the NAACP publication Crisis Magazine and in Opportunity Magazine and other publications. He devoted his life to writing books of poems, two novels, three collections of short stories, four volumes of editorial and documentary fiction, twenty plays, children's poetry, musicals and operas, three autobiographies. Langston Hughes died of cancer on May 22, 1967.

His residence at 20 East 127th Street in Harlem, New York has been given landmark status by the New York City Preservation Commission. His block of East 127th Street was renamed 'Langston Hughes Place'. The poem I, Too, uses excellent language, imagery and strong sounds to express the poet's feelings towards racism. I, Too is an anti-discrimination poem, which shows the injustice of racism. The title gives the reader a sense of what the poem might entail by stating that the author has a personal relationship with America. The poem is situated in America and describes a black man's personal experience with racial discrimination.

He is treated as if he is an embarrassment to the white people, and made to feel inferior to them. The poet is trying to show how America blanket her racial discrimination issues. He also wants to convey the importance of racial equality. He wants the reader to understand that this is not just a personal experience, but a voice of his people. The tone changes throughout the poem.

In the first line, the tone is patriotic. The line, "I, too, sing America", indicates that he is also an American. And symbolizes that he has a stand in the nation. In the next section, the tone is of anger and strength. The man is infuriated at how he is treated, but he knows he is strong enough to fight back. This is shown in the line, "But I laugh, and eat well, and grow strong".

The following stanza's tone is of warning and caution. The man warns the people, that he and his people will rise to a level where they don't have to be in the kitchen but at the table. The poem is in response to Walt Whitman's writing "kmllkmll; , , l, l, ". Walt Whitman's work was revolutionary in that he brought a new type of revised form and diction. His words were simple and heartfelt, his rhythms natural and unaffected, his ideas sincere and straightforward. Leaves of Grass is one of the great national epics, it describes the freedom of spirit and colors Whitman's vision of his country.

This poem underscores Whitman's basic attitude toward America, which is part of his ideal of human life. The American nation has based its faith on the creativeness of labor, which Whitman glorifies in this poem. This poem expresses Whitman's love of America with its lively atmosphere and the people's achievement. What Whitman failed to see was that he was looking from the white American perspective and not the eyes of the African American man.

Langston Hughes, being American, tells all of us in his poetry that freedom must belong to all of us before it can be freedom for anyone. For, indeed, the black man's roots are deep in America, even deeper than those of most white Americans. Therefore, Hughes celebrates America as well, but not an America that is but an America that is to come. The poem "I, too" inspires me to see that poetry can enhance the spirit of the people.

Clearly, there is a transformation of the black community as a whole from its long history of confinement. Also, note that Langston also writes intelligently and creatively about the community rather than just himself. At the beginning of the poem the rest of America is afraid to acknowledge the presence of the blacks to the rest of the world. However, they eventually grow to understand and appreciate the blacks. This is due to an increase in their numbers and their cries finally being heard to the ear of America..