I, Too

The title of the poem is "I, Too". From reading the title the reader expects the poem to be about somebody, who will probably explain that he/she does, has, feels or is something or somebody as somebody else. The title raises the reader's curiousity: the reader wants to know who is speaking, and to whom he/she refers when he/she writes "too". The word "too" implies a comparison between two parts.

The poem deals with the thoughts of a black man (or woman), who is the speaking voice. He begins saying that he, too, sings America, he introduces himself, and then he tells the reader something that usually happens to him. When the company comes, he is sent to eat in the kitchen, because they don't want him, probably because he is a black man. But he doesn't feel bad: he laughs and eats well. And he grows strong, not only physically, but also inside: he learns not to feel bad for what the others think about him, and he is hopeful. Then, the speaking voice tells of his expectations about the future. He tells that one day, that he doesn't expect to be too far, he will sit at the kitchen, and, on that day, they'll see how beautiful he is and will be ashamed. He concludes saying he, too, is America.

The poem is made up of two stanzas: the first of seven lines and the second of eleven. The poem begins and ends with the words "I, too".

The first line says: I, too, sing America. It means that the speaking voice wants to communicate that he feels to be part of America, he celebrates America even if they don't think he is worth eating at the same table with the other people.
The last line tells, I, too, am America. He doesn't use the word "American", but "America", to express that he and all the black people are part of its story. They have an active role in the constitution of America exactly as the white people.

The poem is a comparison between what the speaking voice lives every day, and what he hopes for the near future. Now, he is put into the corner, but he laughs and lives well; then, he will be with the others, and anybody will recognise that he is a beautiful person as them.
The poet used short lines, simple language and contract forms. The poem is easy to read and to understand and gives a simple an defined image of events.