I,+Too,+Sing+America

=Poem= 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.

=Summary= toc In this short poem, the speaker begins by claiming that he, too, "sings America". He goes on to note that he is "the darker brother ", referring to his skin color, and then makes reference to the fact that he is sent "to eat in the kitchen / when company comes", as if he were a black slave in a white household. The oppression, however, doesn't stop him from laughing and growing strong.

Then the speaker envisions a future in which he is no longer sent to the kitchen, in which no one would dare to call him unequal. They (presumably, the white majority) will see him as beautiful and "be ashamed" at their previous prejudice.

The poem concludes with the speaker asserting, again, that he (and, therefore, his race) is indeed American. As an American, he should have all of the same rights and freedoms as everyone else. No one should be denied these rights based on their skin color.

=Themes=

Race
The most prevalent theme of "I, Too, Sing America " is shown clearly through the poem's setting – a white household with black slaves or servants. The poem begins by focusing on America's history of racial oppression, but looks towards a brighter future, when white Americans will recognize black Americans as their equals, and be ashamed of their previous prejudice.

Ambition
In "I, Too, Sing America," the speaker has to have ambition for a pressing reason – his survival, his sense of self, and his sense of racial equality. He also possesses a persistent optimism, which manifests itself in the speaker's assurance that one day, he, too, will "be at the table ." He will someday be able to enjoy equality. Separate, but equal, is not the same as equal rights.

Freedom
In "I, Too, Sing America," freedom is the big goal. By refusing to buckle under the awful pressures of discrimination and oppression, the speaker moves ever closer towards eventual freedom and racial equality. He's looking forward to the day America fulfills her promise of freedom.

There's something to be said for mental freedom, too – the speaker firmly believes that he (and his race) is equal to white Americans. Though he is treated poorly, he knows his value and doesn't allow his mind to be imprisoned. It's all about conviction, here. It's the way to freedom.