I, Too.

So, when I first found out "blogging" was a part of AP lit one could say I was.........mortified. Yep, that's right. MORTIFIED. What would I blog about? Would I ever be creative enough to come up with anything insightful to say? Most importantly, would I ever be able to focus on one of these for more than around five minutes (focusing on the computer is not something I'd say I'm the best at.....once night fall hits my attention falls entirely on Netflix/Pinterest)? At first I was completely defeated (kind of dramatic, I know) but after the days went on, and the blogs continued I realized these are actually kind of entertaining once you sit down and just start typing (I actually feel like a crazy person doing these because I'm basically having a well thought out conversation with myself......it is what it is). Anyways, it's safe to say that blogging turned out to actually be ok, and one thing I didn't realize I'd actually enjoy about blogging was blogging about poems. Before this, I barely knew anything about poetry, let alone could I name anyone besides Robert Frost or Dr. Seuss. But as the months have gone by, and the poem blogs have continued, I've realized that I've actually found a particular interest in poetry; I can even now say that I might actually have a favorite poet (Langston Hughes, probably). Poetry isn't as bland as I thought it was going to be, and once one finds a certain genre of poetry that they particularly like, it's almost as if one is simply reading a relatable/interesting/song like story. On that note, one thing I believe I really tend to enjoy about Langston Hughe's poetry is the fact that the way his words are layed out truly allows one to create a perfect scenario of the story he's telling in their heads. The language may not be extremely deep or profound, however, his simple placement of common words really gets the job done and evokes emotions from readers (that's just my opinion). So, while roaming the internet for another poem to blog about, I happened to come across one titled "I, Too" by none other than Langston Hughes; the poem goes like this:

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.

The first stanza in this poem represents the reality of what's going on during this time period. The speaker states that "I, too, sing America/ I am the darker brother" as a way of making it clear to those around him that he is also an American; America is his home, his place where he can prosper, where is pride is, and the speaker feels that just because he's the "darker brother" doesn’t mean that he's so much different from anyone other American. The first stanza finishes off with the speaker stating that "They send me to eat in the kitchen/When company comes/But I laugh/And eat well/ And grow strong" as a way that allows the reader to know that the narrator is highly aware of his position in society; the speaker knows that he cannot be seen "when company comes" due to him more than likely being some form of house help, yet, he finds it to be unfair because he "eats well and grows strong" just like others around him. He is no different than his fellow peers as a whole, yet, cannot participate in events equally simply due to the color of his skin. The second stanza of this poem appears to represent the fantasy the speaker hopes will come true; the first line simply saying "tomorrow" goes far beyond the day after the current day, seeing how tomorrow can mean "at some future time". At some future time, the speaker imagines he'll finally be able to "be at the table/ When company comes" as if it's completely normal while he is no longer looked down upon and forced to eat in the kitchen alone. As the lines go on, the narrator expresses that those around him will become ashamed of themselves once they "see how beautiful [he is]"; the narrator simply wants his companions to realize his beauty on the inside for who he is instead of on the outside which simply dictates his skin tone. He is aware that he doesn’t deserve such treatment and hopes for a better day when everyone becomes ashamed for how they've looked down upon him when he knows that he "too, am America". Ya feel me?