I, Too, Sing America : Summary

I, Too, Sing America is a notable literary work by Langston Hughes. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of I, Too, Sing America.

    

        

        
Summary
       
This short but powerful poem expresses the strong hope, pride, and confidence of African-Americans in the face of racial inequality. The speaker represents all Black people in America. He begins by saying, “I, too, sing America.” This means he is also a part of the American nation. He is also an American citizen, just like all the black Americans. He is “the darker brother.” He is also a part of the nation, just like any other American. The only difference is that his color is black.
However, he faces racial inequality. He is treated unfairly. When guests come to visit, he is sent away to eat in the kitchen — hidden from sight, as if he does not belong with the others. This represents how Black people were separated and treated as inferior in American society.
But the speaker does not feel sad or defeated. Instead, he laughs, eats well, and grows strong. This shows his positive spirit and strength. Even though society pushes him aside now, he knows that his time will come.
He then says, “Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table when company comes.” Here, “tomorrow” means the future — a time when equality and justice will exist. The speaker believes that one day, he will be treated as an equal citizen. When that day comes, no one will dare tell him to eat in the kitchen. He will take his rightful place at the same table with everyone else.
He also says that when people see how beautiful he is, they will feel ashamed. This beauty is not only physical; it means the beauty of his soul. It means the beauty of every black person’s soul. The white people who once ignored him will realize that they were wrong to treat him unfairly.
The poem ends with the powerful line, “I, too, am America.” This final line declares that African-Americans are an inseparable part of the nation.