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An Analysis Of Langston Hughes 'Double-Consciousness'

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“Double-consciousness” is a theoretical construct made by W.E.B. Dubois’ which he stated in his work, The Souls of Black Folks, that “It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one’s self through the eyes of others, of measuring one’s soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity.” (DuBois 689). In this essay one fiction work Black No More by George Samuel Schuyler and the poem “I Too” by Langston Hughes will be analyzed and how the characters in those two works that they portray reflect the realities of “double-consciousness.” The character Max Disher in the fictional work Black No More could reflect the realities of “double-consciousness” because it seems as though he has …show more content…

The poem first starts off addressing his nationality “I, too, sing America” (Hughes 1308). By addressing that the character knows they are black and also American just like everyone else. The poem then goes to show how everyone is ashamed of the character’s skin color. “I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes” (Hughes 1308). The character seems like they do not have an issue with their skin color they just want everyone else to see they too are the same as them. By the people treating the main character like that shows that they are ashamed of them and also almost views them as someone less than them. The reason how that could be is because of course the people do not like the way the character looks, but when you constantly keep someone away from others mainly because of their skin color it could not only show you are ashamed but eventually lead people to think that those people do not view that person as an equal. From reading this poem, Langston Hughes seems to have written it to address the segregation between the whites and blacks and how one day it will hopefully all come to an end. The theme of it is having hope. Hope that one day the character will be accepted for who they are and make them feel like they are just like everyone else matter the skin

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