I, Too

“I, Too” represents a pivotal expression of the African American experience not only in the early 20th century, but into contemporary times. More than anything, the poem is a cry for empathy, equality, and respect. The poem does not beg for these things; instead, it asserts confidence and strength through use of the future tense, powerful imagery, and an uncompromising voice. This mixture of recognizing inequity while also asserting pride and determination encapsulates the long, difficult history Black people have had in America.

Hughes opens the poem with the line “I, too, sing America” (Line 1). This line, while short and seemingly simple, is quite complex. The first thing to note is the adverb “too.” Here, “too” means in addition to or also. The use of the word might seem strange in the opening line since the poem has not had the chance to introduce anybody else singing. But the word is actually referencing two things. First, the word asserts the agency of the Black voice in America. During Hughes’s time and for much of American history, America has suppressed Black voices in art, politics, and in society.