An Analytical Comparison of "I Hear America Singing" and "I, Too:

Langston Hughes was a poet with many artistic abilities. His writing and drawings established the lifestyles of many African Americans during this time. In a poem called “I, Too” Hughes express his feelings as an African American, a brother, and someone who deserves to fit in society. He states “I, too sing America” (1039). Hughes saw himself as an individual who has a voice in America even though his skin is a little darker. In a poem called “Democracy” Hughes states: “I have as much right as the other fellow has to stand on my own two feet and own the land” (1043). Hughes was speaking for every African American whom were still dealing with segregation, racism, and freedom.

In “I Hear America Singing” Whitman uses metaphors to explain the work that the workers did in America. Whitman uses metaphors in the entire poem. The uses of metaphors give the reader an allusion that would not normal are used. Metaphors

As The Star Spangled Banner is heard through the speakers of the football stadium, pride fills the hearts of all the Americans while they stand tall. The sole purpose that the song was written was to get America through a time of war and to instill a sense of strength and pride. The songs main focus is on the star spangled banner or the American flag. When people think of America they picture the red, white, and blue flag with the fifty stars. The American flag gives America something that represents them and that is why they wave the flag around proudly when given the chance. That very same pride that fellow Americans get when waving the flag is the same pride that Francis Scott Key felt as he seen the flag flying over Fort Henry. These following lines of The Star Spangled Banner is proof that Americans should be proud to live in America, “What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last

Langston Hughes spoke and captivated the general struggles of an African American’s life during the 1900s through his poem, “I, Too.” Hughes’ points out the injustice of bigotry or one’s beliefs in America, and his overall message is saying that an African American’s hard work is just as noteworthy as any other American. In contrast, Walt Whitman, author of “I Hear America Singing,” speaks about the employed citizens of America. He gives honor to those who are living their lives and working to make America a better place. Despite the fact that both poems are similar, they also have a vast amount of differences. Whitman’s poem is perplexed, while Hughes’ is straightforward. These authors’ poems focus on different themes and give the readers different perspectives. These poems are inspiring and demonstrate a new vision for society, however, the themes vary as Whitman focuses on a unified nation, and Hughes demonstrates his writing through an individual.

In the poem "I Hear America Singing" by Walt Whitman, the reader envisions a country of people working for the greater good of mankind. These people come together as part of the whole society developing industry and production. Each person has a different occupation, but each job is important to the bigger picture. The bigger picture and theme being that of a country in which everyone is working together to create a successful and harmonious civilization.

Separate but equal. These three words were used to justify the countless lynchings, riots, as well as legal segregation. The Jim Crow laws stranglehold on the American people was slowly diminishing. The racist regimes which dictated that African Americans be granted the basic rights but not a thing more, only perpetuated the idea of keeping the African Americans as second class citizens, was slowly coming to a close. Langston Hughes could not accept to be thrown into being a second class citizen when at one time he was treated as an equal. Hughs knew that one day, people would judge others by their character, not by the color of their skin. The theme of equality as well as the unique sense of liberating American freedom is prevalent all throughout I, Too, Sing America. This poem is a protest against the rapid discrimination that was still ongoing, despite the advances to bridge the race gap that were made. This theme is developed by the extended metaphor which continued throughout the poem, an allusion as well as a expansion upon a earlier piece of literature called "I Hear America Singing"; which preaches a similar message that Hughs is trying to convey, his strong diction which evokes even stronger emotions with its imagery of the rich African American culture, as well as the stark contrasts that lie within the American society.

Poem Paper We are going to compare the two poems by comparing and contrasting both poems. One of the poems is titled, “I Hear America Singing”. The other poem is titled, “Let America Be America Be America Again.” Let’s keep on reading to find out more information between these two poems. Let’s start off with the first poem mentioned in the introduction.

In the poem “I, Too, Sing America” by Langston Hughes, he envisions a greater America, a more inclusive America where all the races can proudly represent themselves as American citizens. Hughes was a leader of Harlem Renaissance, and had tremendous pride of his race as an African American. However, during that time period, African Americans were being considered as second-class race, and they were being segregated in every aspect throughout the country. Hughes could not tolerate seeing his fellow brothers and sisters being treated unequally because of their skin color, he knew that he had to do something to bring a change, and he was determined to make that change become the reality. Hughes published the poem in the year of 1945, about ten years before the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. It was the time where racism and prejudice were still prevalent, and segregation laws were being implemented in many places throughout the country. People needed encouragement to stand up in order to fight for their rights, and this poem perfectly empowers people’s courage and spirit. In “I, Too, Sing America,” Langston Hughes uses sound, diction, and symbolism hoping to awaken people’s dilapidated spirits and that one day people would embrace each other in which African Americans are truly classified as equal Americans.

The Good and the bad principles of Early American society or portrayed in the both I TOO SING AMERICA and I HEAR AMERICA SING. First, the background to I TOO SING AMERICA. I TOO SING AMERICA was written in the free verse style. The poem uses the analogy of eating, to describe the racist actions that were accruing with in the American times. He said that he was sent to eat in the kitchen, but that in the end, he would be respected because he was part of America also.

The reader believed Langston Hughes knew the mother in “Mother to Son,” and the college student in “Theme for English B,” And the servant in “I, Too,” They were Him; they were all African Americans that had to endure the early 1920’s. In each of these poems were hopes for a better tomorrow, despite life’s hardship’s living as a “colored person” (980), Langston Hughes loved America and that was evident in the endings of “I, Too” and “Theme for English B.” The poems of Langston Hughes will live forever as part of American Civil Rights Poetry.

The poem I, Too by Langston Hughes is one of many poems written during the Harlem Renascence that depicts a struggle of this double consciousness. The poem starts off by saying “ I, Too, sing America” symbolizing that black Americans too are here and have an important voice needing to be heard for unity in a white dominating society. The speaker continues to let us know that he is a black servant stating “ I am the darker brother/ they send in the kitchen when companies comes” (2-3).

Are you even eligible to work in America? Two famous poems “I, Too” and “I Hear America Singing” both discuss the workers of America, American identity, and America as a whole. Although they do share these exterior similarities, the differences between Langston Hughes “I, Too” and Walt Whitman “I Hear America Singing” are notably striking. The first difference between these two poems is in the tones.

The word ¨I¨ tells the reader that he is the subject of the poem and ¨too¨ means that he is apart of what he is referring too. In ¨I Hear America Singing¨ symbolism is shown from stanzas 2-7. Each stanza includes a different occupation that most people in america would have for example ¨those mechanics¨, ¨the carpenter¨, and ¨the boatman¨. Each of these occupations symbolizes each of the opportunities that white people have that many african americans do not.

Writing “I Too”, Hughes is somewhat replying to Whitman's “I Hear America Singing” when he says “I ,too, sing America” he is making a strong and powerful statement. All the lies and false perceptions of other races, Hughes is putting to rest. He is declaring that one day his song will be just as loud as the ones now sung by the white people, no one

“I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear, Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong.” The phrase “I hear America singing” presents an image of Americans being proud and healthy individuals that are engaged in productive and happy labor. “I am listening to the nation in song, the different songs I listen to, The songs of technicians, each individual humming his because it is supposed to be easygoing and firm, The woodworker caroling his while measuring the length of his timber or wood, The craftsman chanting while he prepares for his job, or when he is done for the day, The captain caroling what he owns on his ship, the crew caroling on the surface of the boat, The footwear designer humming while resting