Analyzing Langston Hughes's Poem 'I, Too, Sing America'

1. Describe how Hughes’s poem builds on Whitman’s poem.
[A] I believe that Hughes’s poem builds on Whitman’s poem because it shows that as people they were forbidden to sing their own carols. [C] In stanza 1 and 2 lines 1 through 9 of “I, Too, Sing America” it states “(1) I, too, sing America. (2) I am the darker brother. (3) They send me to eat in the kitchen (4) When company comes. (5) But I laugh, (6) And eat well, (7) And grow strong. (8) Tomorrow, (9) I’ll be at the table.” This states that Hughes’s poem was quite relevant to Whitman’s poem because it is mainly saying that the man in Hughes’s poem can’t really sing his own carol in Hughes’s poem and the people in Whitman’s poem can sing their own carols because they are not getting
shoved out for any reason. In stanza 5 lines 15 through 18 of “I Hear America Singing” it states “(15) Each sing what belongs to him or her and to none else, (16) The day what belongs to day-at night the party of young (17) fellows, robust, friendly (18) Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.” This states that they were able to sing their own carols unlike the man in Hughes’s poem because he could not sing his own carols. [E] My opinion of these poems are that one is all about singing your own carols and the other is talking about how it is forbidden to sing their own carols. It kind of reminds me of how some things are forbidden because there are laws against it and then some things you can do that are like a freedom of rights.