Take a Stand!

          In the Langston Hughes poem "I, too" the author invokes a plea for equality and freedom. He does this by setting up his poem so that we can see his purpose by the end. The person depicted in this piece is an African American servant who is banished by his master whenever guests arrive. He is forced into dining in the kitchen-secluded from company. However, this situation doesn't faze the servant who laughs and grows stronger from the ordeal of isolation. The crux of this stanza asserts "I'll be at the table...Nobody'll dare/ Say to me/ 'Eat in the kitchen,'/ Then" (9-14). This demonstrates how the servant is willing to emerge from submission and repel others imposing limits on his self-esteem. Also, it establishes the poet's  true meaning of bravery and the benefits of standing up for what is right.

          Most people, if asked, will advocate for supporting justice and taking a stand. Here's the thing--they don't really mean it. We all think standing up for what's right is hypothetically wonderful, yet when we see it in normal life situations, we dismiss it as  awkward and unnecessary. People don't want others to do what's right; they just want them to cause the least amount of trouble as possible. The Langston Hughes poem emphasizes the amount of courage needed to break this obstacle and how people should support others without judgement. That's why America is so celebrated or "sung": it strives for pushing conventional boundaries and revering diversity.