Symbolism in 'I, Too' by Langston Hughes

Hughes (1901-1967) was a great revolutionary poet of Modern America. He could not bear the pitiable circumstances of Africans marginalized in Harlem, America. His poetry has awakened the dead Harlem Renaissance Movement which is a cry for the just rights of African Americans.

In ‘I, Too,’ Langston Hughes uses the symbols of the kitchen and the table to explore themes of racial segregation, resilience, and the eventual realization of equality.

"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."

The kitchen symbolizes the marginalization and segregation of African Americans in society. Being sent to the kitchen means the exclusion of Black people from the mainstream of social and political spheres in America. However, the act of eating well and growing strong in the kitchen symbolizes resilience and the inner strength that African Americans have developed despite being sidelined. The kitchen typically is a place of labor and service which becomes a space of empowerment and preparation.

The table symbolizes inclusion, equality, and the breaking down of racial barriers. Hughes envisions a future where African Americans will be no longer confined to the margins (the kitchen) but will be fully integrated into society, sharing its benefits and opportunities. The act of sitting at the table represents the realization of racial equality and justice.

"Nobody'll dare,

Say to me,

Eat in the kitchen,

Then."

This line speaks of the anticipated end of racial discrimination and the assertion of African American dignity and equality. The refusal to go to the kitchen promotes the breaking of racial subjugation and the assertion of equal rights. Then the poet goes to spread the message of resilience in the face of adversity.

"They'll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed—

I, too, am America."

The declaration "I, too, am America" symbolizes the inherent belonging of African Americans to the nation. It is a powerful assertion of identity and a demand for recognition and respect. Through these symbols, Hughes conveys a powerful message of resilience, hope, and the inevitability of social change. The poem is both a protest against racial injustice and a vision of a more equitable future.

To conclude, the Whites’ prejudice against the Black African Americans is unneglectable and the poet has tried to put light on the harsh realities of the marginalized society where color is considered superior to virtue. Moreover, there is also a hint of domestic violence inflicted on the black people by the Whites. They were treated like slaves and even untouchables. They aren’t considered humans. This animal like treatment is no more but a derisiveness of human kind.

Poem: 'I, Too'