Langston Hughes wrote the poem “I, Too” to express his concern about how African Americans are racially discriminated against and excluded from the essential matters concerning the society despite being Americans like the white population. He says, “They send me to eat in the kitchen when the company comes” (Line 3 and 4). This poem responds directly to Whitman’s “I Hear America Singing.” Whitman’s poem acknowledges the efforts of different laborers in developing America. His poem majorly addresses the working class and their pride in being Americans. For instance, he says, “Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs” (Line 16). However, Whitman’s poem does not acknowledge the African Americans who at that time were being enslaved and subjected to harsh treatment. The African American’s contribution was equally relevant in developing America. Therefore, Hughes writes the poem “I, Too” as a disappointment that the African American community is not recognized and their nation-building efforts are overlooked.
Hughes’s response to Whitman’s poem is that of optimism. He believes that the time is coming when people will realize the significant role of the black community in society. He uses a defiant tone that he is still proud to be an African American despite being unrecognized. The discrimination that the black community is experiencing in the white-dominated society is not breaking them but is making them stronger. He says, “But I laugh eat well and grow stronger (Line 5, 6, 7). Hughes’ defiance demonstrates his pride in being American like the white population and that his position in society is as important as any other American. He, therefore, urges the need for society to embrace equality and treat each other as a people of one nation rather than based on racial lines. He ends the poem in an optimistic tone that supremacists will realize their mistakes and be ashamed of their prejudice.