Wednesday, February 02, 2011

 

Cyber-Assignment

February 1, 1902- May 22, 1967, was poet Langston Hughes' birthday. Students are to respond to one of his poems. I suggested I Too Sing America.

Suggestions are to write a poem in the style of Hughes's poem or reflect on what it means and what it says to you, its audience. There is no wrong response.

Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902-1967) was the first black writer in America to earn his living from writing. Born in Joplin, Missouri, he had a migratory childhood following his parents' separation, spending time in the American Mid-West and Mexico. He attended Columbia University from 1921-1922 but left, disillusioned by the coolness of his white peers.

. . . This recording features two of Hughes's best known poems. One of Hughes's poetic innovations was to draw on the rhythms of black musical traditions such as jazz and blues, but in 'The Negro Speaks of Rivers' it's the heritage of Negro spirituals which is recalled by the poem's majestic imagery and sonorous repetitions. Written when Hughes was only seventeen as he travelled by train across the Mississippi, 'The Negro Speaks of Rivers' is a beautiful statement of strength in the history of black people, which Hughes imagines stretching as far back as ancient Egypt and further into Africa and the cradle of civilisation. The poem returns at the end to America in a moment of optimistic alchemy when he sees the "muddy bosom" of the Mississippi "turn all golden in the sunset".

'I, Too' written just before his return to the States from Europe and after he'd been denied passage on a ship because of his colour, has a contemporary feel in contrast to the mythical dimension of 'The Negro Speaks of Rivers'. It is no less powerful however, in its expression of social injustice. The calm clear statements of the 'I' have an unstoppable force like the progress the poem envisages. Hughes's dignified introductions to these poems and his beautiful speaking voice render them all the more moving.

This recording was made in 1955 by the jazz specialist label, Folkways.
http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoet.do?poetId=1551
Also see http://www.kansasheritage.org/crossingboundaries/page6e1.html



I, Too, Sing America by Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.

Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--

I, too, am America.

Comments:
Julien Chen
Professor Sabir
English 201 B
02 February 2011

Freewrite: Langston Hughes Poem Reflection

I am reflecting on “I, Too, am America” by Langston Hughes. I believe that this poem’s theme is racism. This is because the narrator explains that he is African-American by the quote “I am the darker brother.” And the narrator referred that someone forces him to eat in the kitchen when there are guests, this suggests that there is someone who controls this man. I think history can prove that the “they” who sent this man to eat in the kitchen are white. After the narrator eats in the kitchen, he grows stronger. The next time that there are guests, they would be scared to make him eat in the kitchen. “They” will also see how much more beautiful the narrator is than them and feel ashamed. I think that this poem is set a long time ago, during the slavery days of the U.S. It protests that even the African-Americans should be considered as Americans.
 
Freewrite: Deshawn Smith
Professor Sabir
English 201a
2 febuary 2011

Langston Hughes Reflection:

I read the poem I Too am America The poem to me is about racism because in the poem the narrator talk about him self as he is African American “I’m the darker brother and how “ when company comes they send me to eat in the kitchen it clearly shows that the people the Narrator refers to are white people who treat him differently but he believes that tomorrow He will be at the table “Tomorrow I will be at the table when company comes and nobody’ll dare say to me eat in the kitchen the narrator believes one no will look down at him than any other person “They’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed I really like this poem because the Narrator is showing that he knows he has nothing to be ashamed about and that even through he is African he knows he is also an American too.
 
Kandace Chao
Professor Sabir
English 201A
2 February 2011

Langston Hughes Free-write

This poem is actually deep. The first stanza tells us what and how he is oppressed. As it progresses, it tells how he grows stronger because of that. In the second stanza, it tells how the situations change. He will be at the table to eat and he will not get sent to the kitchen.
This shows the karma of those who treat others differently. When doing something bad on them, it goes back and haunts them by something or someone doing badly to them. But, because of all that bad, those treated wrongly get stronger and develop more courage. The line, “I, too, am America,” shows that he is American like the rest of the people. Because he is American, he should be treated as such, and not like anything else.
 
Matt Canevaro
Professor Sabir
English 201b
2 February 2011
Langston Hughes Freewrite
In Langston Hughes poem “I, Too” he discusses how racism has affected him; How growing up, whenever company would come over he would be sent to the kitchen to eat. His tolerance for it is amazing, he says he just laughs it off and instead “eats well and grows stronger”. Then he reflects about the future saying that soon he will be able to eat with company and no longer will someone tell him to go the kitchen. In the end he writes that “they’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed” which tells me that when they come to realize how good of a person Langston is they will be ashamed for ever telling him to be in the kitchen.
This poem discusses upon a very touchy subject but I’m glad professor sabir recommended it. This writer did not put a lot of words down but he didn’t need to add anymore. His poem was insightful and you could tell a lot of how he was feeling and thinking when he wrote this. It showed me he was thinking past racism and how he only wanted to be treated equal. The fact that he was put in the kitchen whenever company came over seems horrible. That feeling of being unwanted or idea that you’re something shameful seems unthinkable.
 
Moreno, Angelina

Sabir, Wanda

English 201B

2 February, 2011

Free Write

In the poem he first tells you how
he is treated, being dismissed
when guests arrive at dinner time.
When he says he’s laughing, eating
well and growing strong; I take
that as they make him do this now
but he will get the courage to
stand up to them. The title
itself “I, too, Sing America”, is
another way for him to express he
has a voice that will be heard. I
think that he wants them to see
the person he is and not just as
the help. With this poem Langston
Hugh’s bringing to light the
ugliness these people have brought
with the way they have treated
him, and now they can see it for
themselves. His poem says to me
that no matter what ethnic
background or color you are, you
still have a voice that can be
heard.
 
Ha T Ly
Professor Sabir
English 201 A
Feb 2, 2011


In this poem, the author writes about his feeling being as an African American who is treated unequally. He was telling the audience that he is in different race with a darker skin. With this difference in skin color, he could not eat at the same table with other people. The people who owned him or live together with him are being ashamed of who he is because of the color differences. But he thinks everyone in America must be treated equally regardless of the skin color.

In this poem, he author tries to reflect on the issue of racism in America. I really like this poem because I think as we’re human being and living in one united country, we have to treat and respect other people no matter what race he or she is or what color of the skin he or she carries. In addition, I want to point out this poem to whoever still carries the thinking of being better or superior than other people. Those people should be ashamed of themselves with that thinking in mind because every one of us is all beautiful from the inside out.
 
Asianna Barner
Professor Sabir
English 201a
2 February 2011



In this poem bv Langston Hughes it shows how people will judge you before being able to get to know you. “They'll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed-“He said to refer to if they got to know him they would see what a beautiful person he is inside. I love this poem because it is a reference on how someone will look at you and label you one way before getting to know you. In society today people still do that which is a horrible thing to do. You should treat people in a way that you would like to be treated in return. I also think that Langston Hughes point was to show how he is treated unfairly, also that one day that he would be treated with the respect and acknowledgement he deserved.
 
Jackie Truong
Professor Sabir
English 201 B
02 February 2011


Freewrite; Langston Hughes poem

After reading the poem “I, too, am America” by Langston Hughes. I believe the author is trying to say he is an African-American. From the quote “They send me to eat in the kitchen”, I can ensure that the narrator is force to go eat in the kitchen when there are guests over at the house. Even though people treated him that way, he still feels strong. Next time when the guests came, no one willing to tell him to go eat in the kitchen, because they then know how beautiful he is and the guest will also feel ashamed. I think this poem is from the 19th Century, because the poem should be written during the days of the slavery.
 
Leonel Sandoval
Professor Sabir
English 201A
2 February 2011

In “I Too Am America” Langston Hughes talks about how he is treated because of being black how they send him to eat in the kitchen when there are guests. It’s being put down all the time because of what race he is. It’s cruel and inhumane all people should be treated equally no matter what race or religion they are. He said he laughs at them and eats grows stronger. He takes the offence and brushes it of his shoulders. He knows that some day they won’t reject him and send him to the kitchen. They will treat him as an equal and not as a foul dog beneath their shoes. Slavery has been gone for a while and yet its all basically the same without the labor being forced against you.
 
Rosita Contreras
Professor Sabir
English 201B
2 February 2011
Reflect on Langston Hughes
The poem I, Too, Sing America by Langston Hughes is very powerful. He is saying that it does not matter the color of his skin and he should be able to eat at the table with everybody else. He is a person just like everyone else and should not be treated differently because of his color. They will see how beautiful he is and not tell him to go eat at the kitchen. No one should be treated that way because everyone has feelings. We are all different and that is what makes us who we are. If we were the same it would be weird. I t seems like it does not affect him as much because he says he eats well and grows strong. It seems he knows that one day he will be treated with respect.
 
When I reread Langston Hughes’s poem, "I Too Sing America," I think about my recent trip out of the country and how when arriving into a new country in the place on the customs application where it says nationality, I write American, yet when speaking to a public health nurse two days ago, when she asked me my nationality, I hesitated before saying African American, because I knew that’s what she wanted to hear. I wasn’t an American anymore, rather a hyphenated citizen.

While in Dakar, the kids would run up and down the streets calling out: “American, American!” There was no confusion who they meant.

What I get from Hughes’s poem is how citizenship is color coded then and now. Someone said we are moving towards a classist society, however, rich black people are still discriminated against. No one sees your monetary value when you are standing on a corner trying to cross the street or hail a taxi. I don’t know what it will take for the kid to get invited to eat in the dining room, but right now there are a lot of us still eating in the kitchen our beauty hidden behind the closed door.
 
Shewit Michael
English 201B
Wanda Sabir
2, February 2011
Langston Hughes Free-write
The theme of this poem, in my opinion, is determination and a sense of promise for a better future. He says how he is always told to eat in the kitchen when company is over and how, on day, he will be able to eat at the dinner table with the company. He also mentions how “they’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed.” He seems to be trying to explain that his personality, more than his physical appearance, is beautiful but they’ve told him to eat in the kitchen due to the color of his skin. It seems to me that he is also trying to portray that the color of his skin is beautiful but they should judge him by his character rather than his race.
 
Angelina Moreno
Professor Sabir
English 201B
2 February, 2011

Free Write

In the poem he first tells you how
he is treated, being dismissed
when guests arrive at dinner time.
When he says he’s laughing, eating
well and growing strong; I take
that as they make him do this now
but he will get the courage to
stand up to them. The title
itself “I, too, Sing America”, is
another way for him to express he
has a voice that will be heard. I
think that he wants them to see
the person he is and not just as
the help. With this poem Langston
Hugh’s bringing to light the
ugliness these people have brought
with the way they have treated
him, and now they can see it for
themselves. His poem says to me
that no matter what ethnic
background or color you are, you
still have a voice that can be
heard.
 
Ha T Ly
Professor Sabir
English 201 A
02 February 2011

Freewrite: Langston Huges Poem Reflection



In this poem, the author writes about his feeling being as an African American who is treated unequally. He was telling the audience that he is in different race with a darker skin. With this difference in skin color, he could not eat at the same table with other people. The people who owned him or live together with him are being ashamed of who he is because of the color differences. But he thinks everyone in America must be treated equally regardless of the skin color.

In this poem, he author tries to reflect on the issue of racism in America. I really like this poem because I think as we’re human being and living in one united country, we have to treat and respect other people no matter what race he or she is or what color of the skin he or she carries. In addition, I want to point out this poem to whoever still carries the thinking of being better or superior than other people. Those people should be ashamed of themselves with that thinking in mind because every one of us is all beautiful from the inside out.
 
Krystle Martin
Professor Sabir
English 201A
2 February 2011


Free write:
Langston Hughes poem “I too am America; reflect on the poem or another poem of your choice.

When I read Langston Hughes poem I felt truly inspired by the passion displayed by the late great writer. I was moved by the way in which he described the injustices that he experienced and how he was able to not allow that to define who he was a black man in American. There was a line where Langston Hughes said ‘They’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed, I think that threw his poetry Langston was saying that black is indeed beautiful and whoever thinks that it is not should be ashamed of themselves. I really enjoyed reading his poetry and being that it is black History month and that Langston Hughes was also born in this month on the 1st of February in 1902; I am really feeling the black history spirit. I have always had a genuine love for reading about black scholars of the past and present like the late W.E.B Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, and one of my favorite poets Maya Angelou. One of my favorite poems by Maya Angelou is ‘I know why the caged bird sings’; I like the read poetry that speaks to my heart and my soul. Heartfelt poetry from Black scholars of the past who have helped me to realize that I am very blessed to be a free African American woman living free in Amreica today. And remember not to take my freedom for granted but to be thankful and appreciative to my ancestors who came and died before me so that I could have it.
 
Manisha Shrestha
Professor Sabir
English 201B
February 2, 2011

“I, Too, Am American” by Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes, the poet of “I, Too, Am American” expressed his feeling through the strong words emphasizing on racism and how he lived in his days. Hughes divided this poem “I, too ,Am American” into two stanzas. Through this poem he wants to explain the all human beings that even if he is of dark complexion, he is still the human being. People discriminate the people with colored skinned. In his first stanza, he stated that “ I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen. When company comes, but I laugh,And eat well, And grow strong” that means he is the man with dark complexion and he has a different race than the other people. He is African-American and he sings for America. He is the part of America too but because of the color difference people of the same land treats him like salve in his own country. He was disappointed because while dining with people, they send him to the kitchen and he has to go to the kitchen and eat, rather than having foods on the table like brothers. Even if, he is hurt a bit because of not having the foods with other people,not treating him as equal like other people. He respected the decision of other people and had food with joy because that makes him to grow more stronger than before. In second stanza, he stated “Tomorrow, I'll be at the table. When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me,"Eat in the kitchen," Then. Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am. And be ashamed-I, too, am America.” Through this second stanza, he wants to let America know that one day there will be the time where color does not matter at all and discrimination basing on the color. The people treating him like a slave now, will realize that he is human being too and has the same respect and dignity like they pose. No one will dare to say him go to the kitchen and eat food. Beside saying that, people who discriminated him and treated him like a dog on that day, they will see how wonderful person he is and will become ashamed of their behaviors and what they did to him and they will realize the people with color are also the human beings and should be treated well.
 
Kimber Soriano
Professor Sabir
Course #1
2 February 2011


Frewrite: Langston Hughes Poem Reflection

“I Too Am America” by Langston Hughes told that African Americans and whites were segregated. He was true to himself about the things he wanted to show to be part of the American society. He wrote this poem because African Americans are citizens and should be treated equally. I believe that even though we are not white or Americans, we can be a citizen in this country and we seek opportunity to become stronger and to be accepted by different types of people. I really understand his poem like he gives a clear understanding of hope of what the black people had to go through to end the segregation.

I am not ashamed of what I am and what country I came from because I am here to recognize me as a citizen toward other people in America. Since I moved here I was wondering that people are so different in many ways. Inside of me telling that it’s hard to accept people because they are not my type of people who speaks the same language and their color of their skin are different than mines. Now I understand how it feels that you can be friend with them so I always like to greet them nicely. It is such an n opportunity to me to become one of these people.
 
Marcela Gutierrez
Professor Sabir
English 201A
03 February 2011

From the poem, “I, Too, Sing America” written by Langston Hughes is a reflection during the slave era in America when African-Americans were mistreated and discriminated as if they were not as equal as the white folks. As soon as I read the first line, “I, too, sing America” shows that he is a proud American and along with the rest of the nation is proud to sing the National Anthem. Going on to the next line, it’s obvious that he sees himself just as equal as anyone else of any skin color. Everyone is a brother and sister and skin color should not make anyone else feel superior to anyone else. As company arrives he is forced to eat in the kitchen because his master is ashamed of him I suppose. I don’t quite get why he laughs because to me segregation and racism during this era is not a funny matter at all. When he makes his claim that the next day he will be eating in the front and he won’t dare let anyone send him again to the kitchen shows his bravery and pride as an African-American. My favorite line is, “Besides, They’ll see how beautiful I am ..And be ashamed—“ because yes no matter what size, shape or color one is we are all beautiful and the same race, the human race. No one is more superior to another, and indeed the people who ran America and the plantations during slavery should be ashamed of themselves for how long African-Americans were treated in so many wrongful ways. Langston Hughes is a proud American, although America hadn’t always treated him the best just because of his skin color. We have all come a long way from those days but discrimination continues today and if we ever act upon that, then we should be ashamed of ourselves!
 
Jeffrey To
3/9/2011
English 1A 8-8:50




In Langston Hughes’s Poem “I ,Too, sing America” talks about how he is being treated unfairly because he is a dark skin person. During, the time this poem was written, there were still racism around the world. Blacks and African Americans were being mistreated, discriminated, and were given unequal treatment due to their skin color. In the poem, I believe the author wanted us to understand his world from his perspective on how he is treated by white people. The title “ I, too, sing America” tell us he is also an American who is suppose to be treated as an American and equally as any American would be treated. In his first 6 lines of his poem, he describes how he is treated when White people are over in his area. He gives comments on how he is rebellious “I laugh” tells us he find it amusing he is being sent away. The next paragraph describes how he grew stronger and shows he does not want to be treated unfairly or beneath others. In his last lines he mention he is not ashamed to be black but rather proud of what he is.
 
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