Langston Hughes
An Inspiration for PADF
Langston Hughes celebrated the innate beauty of Black America, capturing and expressing that ideal alongside the realities, joys and sufferings of African-Americans in ways which reflect the universality of the human condition.
During his career, Langston Hughes traveled the world and forged friendships with many international poets. On one such trip, he was touched by his experiences in Haiti. During his time there, his compassion for the world’s poor and oppressed people deepened. It is said that to connect with impoverished Haitians he went barefoot, scandalizing the upper classes. Hughes’ recollections of his visit to Haiti were published in 1956 in “I Wonder and I Wander.”
His memorable poem, “I, Too, Sing America” serves as inspiration for the “I Too Am Haiti” campaign. Hughes spoke of generations suffering segregation and oppression, waiting for the day that society would recognize African-Americans fully as equals.
Likewise, the “I Too Am Haiti” campaign seeks to promote freedom and opportunity for all of Haiti’s children. In supporting social change in Haiti, we draw on the United States’ own march to freedom, equality and inclusion for all of its citizens.
We celebrate our ties with others working for progress in our hemisphere. And we continue to prove that – working together – we can overcome the dark chapters of history to build a brighter future for all people.
I, Too, Sing America
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.
Langston Hughes celebrated the innate beauty of Black America, capturing and expressing that ideal alongside the realities, joys and sufferings of African-Americans in ways which reflect the universality of the human condition.
During his career, Langston Hughes traveled the world and forged friendships with many international poets. On one such trip, he was touched by his experiences in Haiti. During his time there, his compassion for the world’s poor and oppressed people deepened. It is said that to connect with impoverished Haitians he went barefoot, scandalizing the upper classes. Hughes’ recollections of his visit to Haiti were published in 1956 in “I Wonder and I Wander.”
His memorable poem, “I, Too, Sing America” serves as inspiration for the “I Too Am Haiti” campaign. Hughes spoke of generations suffering segregation and oppression, waiting for the day that society would recognize African-Americans fully as equals.
Likewise, the “I Too Am Haiti” campaign seeks to promote freedom and opportunity for all of Haiti’s children. In supporting social change in Haiti, we draw on the United States’ own march to freedom, equality and inclusion for all of its citizens.
We celebrate our ties with others working for progress in our hemisphere. And we continue to prove that – working together – we can overcome the dark chapters of history to build a brighter future for all people.
I, Too, Sing America
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.