1065 – I, Too by Langston Hughes

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.

Quote Number: 121

Source: Hughes, Langston. “I, Too.” as “I, Too, Sing America,” in Survey Graphic. Supplement. In The Survey. Survey Associates: East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. March 1925. Online at Poets.org Here.

Source Notes: