I Hear America Singing And I Too

Even though, “ I, Too” and “I Hear America Singing” both explore the idea of racial inequality, they are conflicting towards each other because of the perspective each poem is written in. For instance, “ I, Too” is written in the perspective of an African-American man, whereas the perspective of “I Hear America Singing” is seen from a Caucasian point of view. Hughes states, “ I am the darker brother” (line 2) and “But I laugh,/ And eat well,/ And grow strong.”(lines 5-7). Contrarily to Hughes declaration of not being hindered, Whitman writes “mechanics” (line 2), “the carpenter singing”(line 3), “the mason singing” (line 4), “the boatman singing” and “the deckman singing” (line 5), “the shoemaker singing” (line 6). These lines written by
both Hughes and Whitman reveal how these poems are different, yet are having the same conversation. Hughes perspective explains the struggle of a black man in America by showing how he will overcome the obstacles that have been laid for him by society and how he won’t confine to what society thinks of him. While, Whitman writes of occupations that only a caucasian person can relate to. Most people of color are not deckman, boatman, or carpenter. The jobs that Whitman wrote of pay lots of money and black people did not usually get those types jobs. Consequently, showing that Whitman is hearing the white America, which is the America that is luxurious, wealthy, and privileged.