Lewis 1

Jalon Lewis

Professor Jacobs

Fresh Comp 2

20 November 2017

I, Too by Langston Hughes: Critical Approach Essay

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark civil rights and U.S labor law in the United

States that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Before

the Act was enacted, segregation was commonplace. Blacks could be told where to sit in public,

where to work, and where to eat all without any confrontation or they would be punished. In the

poem I, Too by Langston Hughes, it focuses on an African American male being relegated to a

separate place to eat when company arrives for dinner in the past, but in the future he believes

that he will not have to do abide by that anymore. The critical approach for this poem is

Psychoanalytic. In America today we still have many different problems with racism and

discrimination even if its not whites and blacks. Hughes published this poem in the 1920s

portraying how an African American worker dealt with segregation. The speaker and the theme

play an important role in creating meaning in this poem. The speaker is bold and confident as

readers are shown that life wont always be the same for African Americans.

In I, Too the speaker is very bold and confident with himself just by his words and

thoughts. In lines 3-6, he says, They send me to eat in the kitchen/ When company comes,/ But

I laugh,/ And eat well. This portion of the poem essentially describes him being discriminated

against. His choice to laugh at this treatment shows the utmost confidence he has and that the

actions of his employer do not bother him in the slightest. Instead of being angry, he keeps his
 Lewis 2

composure and follows their directions with hope of a better future. By reacting like this, the

speaker shows he is not typical, and he has a belief that he and his race will be treated differently

eventually. For further example, in lines 11-12 he says, Nobodyll dare say to me. If anybody

says the word dare, he usually has the utmost confidence and believes that he is going to win

regardless of what challenges him. The speaker feels that after sitting in the kitchen, at some

point his employer will be afraid to tell him what to do and how to do it. By lines 13-14, he

adds, Eat in the kitchen, / Then. This is after stanza 2 where he talks about how they send him

in the back to eat when company comes. Little did they know he was eating good and getting

stronger as he quotes in lines 6-7. After all of this, he feels it will show improvements on his

appearance and they wont tell him to go to the kitchen anymore. Altogether, he shows that he is

coming alive between stanzas 2-3. There is a difference between being told to leave and dealing

with it than not putting up with it at all.

The theme in this poem centers on the African American experience, in particular that

there will be improvement in their situations and circumstances. The speakers change points to

how African Americans were treated from the past until present day. The speaker knows that

there will be improvements on treatment towards African Americans. He sees his situation as a

sort of metaphor for every African American. While he might get sent to the kitchen at work, its

the same for a black person who might be sent to the back of the bus or not be let into the library

or restaurant. Even with these circumstances, the speaker knows change will happen sooner

rather than later. For instance, in line 8 he interrupts his story by saying, Tomorrow. This word

means he has hope for a better life for African Americans. He knows it wont happen the same

day he is sent to the kitchen, but one day, hell be able to sit at the table (Line 9). Being at the

table means he will be under his own jurisdiction and will not have to listen to anybody. Again,
 Lewis 3

what happens to the speaker can be what happens for all African Americans. Historically, the

country was completely changed when the Civil Rights Act was made official in 1964. Now

blacks can own a house, go to school, and dine with whitesnobody has to eat in the kitchen

anymore. Now whites are intimidated by us and see our potential, talent, and intelligence that we

can provide to this country. Whites can see blacks in all sorts of places and finally recognize

them as neighbors or friends. This might be what the speaker means when, in lines 15-17, he

says, Besides, / Theyll see how beautiful I am / And be ashamed--. The speaker knows that

when he gets to the table, everybody gets to see him and he doesnt have to hide anymore. They

may even feel bad for how the viewed him before.

Racism and discrimination still continues today even though there still have been

improvements. We still have situations today where there have been riots, fights, and even

killings over this problem. The critical approach I took for this poem is Psychoanalytic because

being sent to the back eating by himself shows how blacks were treated in the past. Also when

he smiles that represents the hope that he has for African Americans. These symbols show the

wrong doings that went towards blacks and the faith and hop that they have for themselves

because they know that they can impact this Earth in a positive way.

In I, Too by Langston Hughes, the speaker is very bold and confident as he faces

discrimination. The critical approach for this poem is Psychoanalytic for many different reasons.

While appearing to wait out his time in the kitchen, he is using it as a time for self-growth. He

is sure of himself in the face segregation and fearless about being held down and controlled. He

knows that he deserves and will eventually have a place at the table. That he too will be seen

as a part of society with equal rights. His willingness and faith for America to not subject African

Americans to second-class citizenship supplies a lasting message. Even though African

 Lewis 4

Americans have been sent to back, we will not be denied and will continue to grow stronger

every day. While we do not have full equality yet, there have been many improvements. In the

end we will all be able to sing, I too, am America.