`` I Too, Sing America And Countee Cullen s Incident

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be looked at like you are inferior to others? Like you are less intelligent and less trustworthy? All because of the fact that the color of your skin is different than what is believed to be â€Å"normal?† During the 1920s and 1930s, this was a very common occurrence, whereas now it is an extremely rare happening. African Americans missed out on numerous opportunities because whites felt as if they should not have them. Because this was such a common event during the Jazz Age, it was often written about in literature pieces. Langston Hughes’ poem â€Å"I, Too, Sing America† and Countee Cullen’s â€Å"Incident† display these limitations put on a specific race (African Americans), and show how the country has†¦show more content†¦Langston Hughes’ â€Å"I, Too, Sing America† was published in 1945. This poem envisions a day in which both races will be equivalent and able to eat together at the same table. The poem starts off with Hughes saying â€Å"I, Too, sing America† (Hughes, 1945, line #). Langston s use of the word â€Å"too† shows that he wishes to be included in the population that is called â€Å"America.† In addition, he used the verb sing. This may date back to the African American tradition of tribal songs. Furthermore, slaves would often sing songs of liberation while working on plantations. In using the word â€Å"sing,† he is informing the people of America that he is included in this group and is doing so in his own culturally rich way. In addition he is further stating that he, too, has a voice and can make a prominent contribution to the country, whether or not they believe he can. The second stanza begins by saying â€Å"I am the darker brother† (Hughes, 1945, line #). This is referring to his skin color and the fact that he is African American, and even though his skin color is different, he is still a â€Å"bro ther,† or an American citizen and should not be treated differently for that. The rest of the stanza says â€Å"They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong† (Hughes, 1945, line #). Because he was sent to a different room to eat when companyShow MoreRelatedA Brief Note On Depression And Its Effects On American Society1331 Words   |  6 Pagesyou think positive about the so called negative aspects of life then you will be happy, and happiness leads to success. Being black in America today is not nearly as difficult as it was in the past. Although in present times there are many different forms of prejudices, but it is not as public as it used to be. Throughout history, black people were brought to America as slaves only to help build the country, the white people had no intention of African men and women becoming a vital part to the countryRead MoreEssay on Langston Hughess I, Too and Countee Cullens Incident1074 Words   |  5 PagesThe poems, â€Å"I, Too† by Langston Hughes and â€Å"Incident† by Countee Cullen employ visual imagery, tone, literary devices such as hyperboles, symbolism, and foreshadowing in different ways to illustrate the public life interaction between two different races, and the private life of an African American’s internal struggle of not being able to fight against the prejudice towards them. Both poets share racism as their piece of life, and although dealing with racism is the central tens ion engaged in theRead MoreRacial Discrimination And The Harlem Renaissance2310 Words   |  10 Pagesthe opposite of love, which is hate. The poetry I chose that dealt with how African Americans not only survive with racism but learned how to defeat it. During the 1920’s and 1930’s African Americans began to face a reality that they were not first class citizens in America. This led to the the creation of the Harlem Renaissance movement that strove to promote African American in the Fine Arts. The African American poets Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Claude Mckay were all part of the HarlemRead MoreLangston Hughes Research Paper25309 Words   |  102 Pagessuccess! In the first half of the poem, I said that our school had the finest teachers there ever were. And in the latter half, I said our class was the greatest class ever graduated. Naturally, everybody applauded loudly. In 1916, the Clark family moved to Cleveland and lived in a basement apartment. Housing for blacks was almost nonexistent, and rents were high because of the migration of Southern blacks to Northern industrial cities during World War I. White European immigrants also lived in