Comparing Langston Hughes Poems 'Democracy And' I, Too

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It seems as if numerous of Langston Hughes poems are based on his own life experiences, especially in the poems “Democracy” and “I, Too.” Both these poems are based on Hughes desire for equality. When Hughes wrote these poems African Americans were still oppressed in America. They were beaten, abused, many were poor and there was strong racism in most of America. There was still a separation of African Americans and white people. White people looked at African Americans as not being a part of America. Even though African Americans were free, the feeling of freedom was limited because of the way they were treated. In both these poems Hughes tries to make negative aspects in his life that happened into positive ones. The basis of his poems are…show more content…
This poem is both influential and dynamic and is an extremely popular piece throughout America. The first sentence saying “ I, too, sing America,” means that Hughes is stating he is an American just like everyone else is. The second stanza he writes “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,” Hughes is saying that he is an American like everyone else, but they separate him from white people because of his skin color. When they send him to the kitchen, he turns a negative into a positive by “laughing” and “growing stronger.” The third stanza he states “Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table When company comes. Nobody’ll dare Say to me, “Eat in the kitchen,” Then.” Hughes is explaining how in the future when equality is achieved nobody will tell him he can't be amongst white people. The next stanza states “Besides, They’ll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed,” he means people will see he is just the same as them just with a different skin tone. When they realize this they will know that what they've been doing for several years was wrong. Then he goes on to state the same sentence he started the poem off with, saying how he is American like everyone else is. There is where the patriotism
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