I, Too Poem Analysis - Essay Example

The poem ‘I Too’ is about the black Americans during the time of slavery. It is the time when equality is not put in consideration and the blacks are termed inferior. They were not given the same opportunities as the white man. They would not share the same restaurant, washroom, water point or even vehicle with the white man. The writer explains about the frustrations of the black man. He is still envisioned him being independent and having the same rights as the white fellows.The speaker of the poem is the author.

This is because the poem is written in the first person. What the author spoke the black man listened because that is what the black man was going through at that time. The poem is also written in the present tense. The form of the poem is that of a free verse. It is written in five stanzas. The sentences are short but that should not fool you. They convey are very strong message. There is a very strong conversational fluidity in the sentences. The shortness of the stanzas and the sentences shows brevity of the poem and how the author was hitting the nail right on the head.

He spoke plainly but portrayed the frustration of the black man in a short, precise but to the point manner. This shows the seriousness of the matter at that time that did not require to be written in long sentences to be put across. The short sentences allows the author to use very optimistic language not show despair at his current state but show optimism for a better futureThe author uses the metaphor ‘the darker brother’. This is used to refer to the black Americans at the time of slavery.

They were not considered equals with the white and they would be treated inhumanely just because of the color of their skin. The author further goes ahead and says he will grow beautiful. This does not mean beautiful in appearance. He meant that he would be intelligent, creative and wise with a better personality just like the white man if granted the same opportunity.The author says ‘The black man goes on, laughs, eats his dinner and grows strong’. This means that as much as they were oppressed they still hoped that they would be better and much stronger in the future.

The black man was bidding on time as one of his saviors because it is only with time that he will achieve the equality he longed for. They were living their lives and growing tough to prepare them for the black uprising that will come. The author goes ahead and uses an assertive language at the time when they were not even allowed to speak. He say ‘they will not dare speak ‘. This refers to how assertive they will be at some point in the future where they will not be oppressed because they will be equals with the whites.

The poem is well understood due to it brevity.To conclude, the author made a very strong case for his affirmation that he will have a better tomorrow. The choice of words used and the shortness of the sentences depict not only his creativity but also the will and strength to make sure they push through with life no matter how hard it was because they were preparing for a better tomorrow.Work Cited.Hughes, Langston, et al. The collected works of Langston Hughes. Columbia: University of Missouri Press, 2001. Print.