Theme Of I Too Sing America By Langston Hughes

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Recommended: The harlem renaissance and langston hughes

Courtney Stefano

During the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes becomes a voice. In his writing and poetry he spoke with the word I. “I” representing the African American culture. During this time period the African Americans were experiencing extreme hardship. Life was difficult for them. Throughout his literature he writes about the concept of dreams, but he also digs deeper into the souls of the African Americans and spreads hope to all of his people, especially during that specific time period of the Harlem Renascence. During this era, which was created because of the Great Migration when all the blacks moved from the south to the north. Harlem was an area where great numbers of African Americans relocated after the migration. During this time of oppression and hatred, the black community was not thought of as Americans by a large number of white people. Because of this, the feeling of freedom was limited. Langston Hughes played an enormous role in changing the way the black community felt. He spread hope.
In the poem “ I, Too, Sing America” Langston Hughes creates an argumentative issue that although he, as well as his race, have a different color skin, it does not mean that they are any less of an American than any other. In the beginning of the poem Hughes writes, “They send me to the kitchen to eat. When company comes,”. This statement creates the typical image during this specific time period. The black male works in the white household. The feelings of division, oppression, and even discouragement immediately emerges. Then he continues with, “But I laugh, eat well, and grow strong.” With these lines Langston Hughes portrays the image that the black man is not bothered by the fact that he must eat in the kitchen and h...

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...tuation good, but it all depends on if and how you let it affect you.

During the Harlem Renaissance the African-American culture struggled. Their race was in need of a voice, a powerful voice. A voice that would lift spirits and give hope to their community. Langston Hughes became that voice. Throughout these three poems, “I, Too, Sing America”, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”, and “A Dream Deferred”, he continuously digs deeper to reach the souls of the African-Americans. He spreads hope to all his people and gives them the strength, courage and inspiration to never give up on their dreams. Langston Hughes became the light in the darkness the African-American culture was experiencing. He wasn’t going to let their dreams dissolve. He wasn’t going to let his history vanish, and he certainly wasn’t going to let his people stop believing that there is hope.

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