“I, Too” by Langston Hughes: Historical Context

The poem I, Too was written in the year 1925, leading to a discussion of the historical background. Primarily, one of the most impactful and devastating events that took place around the time of these works was racial segregation, which started approximately around the 19th century and ended in 1964 (Library of Congress, n. d.). Discrimination was another upsetting and definitive feature of that period, as the anti-lynching bill was defeated by the Southern Democratic Senate. Fortunately, there were some actions in the name of progress, for example, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt supporting the anti-lynching cause.

The best way to describe the historical context of the time period is to refer to some of the lines from I, Too. In the final lines, Langston writes “Besides, They will see how beautiful I am and be ashamed, I, too, am America” (Hughes, 15-18). This is a clear reference to the severe anti-black discrimination that was taking place at the time this poem was released. By stating that, the poet wants white Americans of the time to understand that he is just as valid as an American citizen as they are. This is a clear call for equality for people of all backgrounds.

I believe that it is crucial to consider the historical context of literary works. They provide an explanation to some lines or events that some people may not understand without knowing. Moreover, being aware of said context adds strength to some literary works, making some of the quotes and sections more striking than they would have been without the consideration of the events. In the case of Langston Hughes’ poem, the segregation era, lynching and overall racial discrimination that took place at that time, provide the reader with the devastation caused by racism and hate crimes.

Works Cited

Hughes, Langston. I, Too. 1925.

Library of Congress. “The segregation era (1900–1939) – The Civil Rights Act of 1964: A long struggle for freedom | Exhibitions – Library of Congress.” Library of Congress, n. d. Web.

Cite this paper

Select style

Reference

StudyCorgi. (2024, February 6). “I, Too” by Langston Hughes: Historical Context. https://studycorgi.com/i-too-by-langston-hughes-historical-context/

Work Cited

"“I, Too” by Langston Hughes: Historical Context." StudyCorgi, 6 Feb. 2024, studycorgi.com/i-too-by-langston-hughes-historical-context/.

* Hyperlink the URL after pasting it to your document

References

StudyCorgi. (2024) '“I, Too” by Langston Hughes: Historical Context'. 6 February.

1. StudyCorgi. "“I, Too” by Langston Hughes: Historical Context." February 6, 2024. https://studycorgi.com/i-too-by-langston-hughes-historical-context/.


Bibliography


StudyCorgi. "“I, Too” by Langston Hughes: Historical Context." February 6, 2024. https://studycorgi.com/i-too-by-langston-hughes-historical-context/.

References

StudyCorgi. 2024. "“I, Too” by Langston Hughes: Historical Context." February 6, 2024. https://studycorgi.com/i-too-by-langston-hughes-historical-context/.

This paper, ““I, Too” by Langston Hughes: Historical Context”, was written and voluntary submitted to our free essay database by a straight-A student. Please ensure you properly reference the paper if you're using it to write your assignment.

Before publication, the StudyCorgi editorial team proofread and checked the paper to make sure it meets the highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, fact accuracy, copyright issues, and inclusive language. Last updated: .

If you are the author of this paper and no longer wish to have it published on StudyCorgi, request the removal. Please use the “Donate your paper” form to submit an essay.