I Too Sing America By Countee Cullen Summary

The poems “I, too, Sing America” by Langston Hughes and “Incident” by Countee Cullen were written during the Harlem Renaissance Era, a time when black Americans were beginning to realize their creativity. The poem by Langston Hughes is one of social circumstance that the speaker believes will lead to eventual triumph. The poem has five stanzas, with each stanza consisting of three lines. There is no rhyme scheme, and the title of the poem is ambiguous in relation to the content. Hughes refers to himself as “the darker brother” in the very first line of the poem, stating that he is sent to eat in the kitchen alone when company comes. This statement can be viewed from a familial and societal standpoint. Hughes may be alluding to slavery, in which servants were not permitted to be in the presence of guests. He is, however, undoubtedly referring to segregation, a system which was still in practice during the Harlem Renaissance. Hughes states that he is not bothered by being forced out of certain areas; he believes that those who sent him away will stop shunning him and will instead welcome him one day in the future. “Incident” by Countee Cullen is a poem that consists of three stanzas, with each stanza being a quatrain. The poem’s rhyme scheme is that of ABCB, and the title refers to actual “incident” which occurred in Cullen’s life. She

Hughes’s is one that presumably happens often, while Cullen’s is a traumatic childhood experience. Hughes approaches the subject in a different manner from Cullen, stating that he still eats well and grows strong, almost as if the prejudice he faces is nothing more than a minor setback in his life. Cullen’s experience as a young girl shaped her view of white people in general, and marred one of her potentially happy childhood