A Comparison of Two Poems by Black Poets Essay

Countee Cullen and Langston Hughes are ii of the most recognized Afri base American poets of the Harlem Renaissance. Countee Cullens Yet Do I Marvel and Langston Hughes I, Too are alike(p) songs in that their similar themes are representational of the authors personal tribulations of racial inequality. By comparing these ii metrical compositions, we get a glimpse of the reality of the injustices of racialism during the 1920s by two prominent Black poets.Cullen and Hughes were born at bottom a category of each other, and consequently wrote these poems in the same year (1925). This is significant because it reflects the time in which racial inequality was prominent. Both poets were fight with their emotions of being African American minorities in a society of exsanguinous superiority. Their poems reflect the injustice of racism, which is especially revealed in Langston Hughes poem I, Too. around poems are filled with symbolism and abstract ideas, and I, Too is an example of suc h. This poem does not rhyme, nor meter patter truly be measured. In graze to understand and grasp the meaning behind this poem, it needs to be assume a few times. Sometimes certain aspects of a poem can be overlooked. For example, in the first line of the poem, I, too, sing America (line 1), Hughes cleverly uses an allusion as he is referring to Walt Whitmans, Song of Myself, which entails similar themes. In Hughes poem, the speaker is addressing the earth as a whole. Hughes use of excellent language and shining imagination effectively expresses the speakers feelings towards racism.This poem explores the injustices of racism through the eye of a scandalous servant working for a white family. He tells us that he is sent to the kitchen when company comes. Every time he is sent away, instead of demonstrating anger, he laughs. This demonstrates that the speaker is a strong persona with self poise. Hughes uses metaphor when he says tomorrow (line 8). He is indicating that the wor d tomorrow implies the future. He has trustfulness that in the course of time, everyone give become equal, Tomorrow, /Ill be at the table /When company comes. /Nobodyll dare/ scan to me, /Eat in the kitchen,/Then. (lines 8-14). The speaker then explains that America will be ashamed of having discriminated against him and otherAfrican Americans. The point that Hughes is trying to make exculpated is that African Americans are Americans too, thus they should not be discriminated against for the color of their skin.The themes delineated in Hughes poems are similar to those exemplified in Countee Cullens poem, Yet Do I Marvel. However, a major difference between the poems lies in the format. Cullens poem is a sonnet, with a rhyming scheme of ABAB BCBC DD EE FF GG (every other line rhymes, with the exception of the outlive two which rhyme consecutively). The intrinsic flow of this poem helps us (the reader) become more engaged in Cullens anguish filled portrayal of racial injustices .Like Hughes poem, Cullens poem is also about the battle of racial identity, yet in addition, he uses religion and mythology to further express the speakers oppose with racial injustices. Although the theme of racial inequality is common in twain poems, Cullens poem focuses more on the speakers perpetual reference to religion and the justification of Gods will. Unlike the hope that the speaker explicated in Hughes poem, the speaker in Cullens poem starts out having faith in God, I doubt not God is good, well-meaning, kind, (line 1). However, he later contradicts his faith in God due to the hardships of discrimination that African Americans endured in the last lines of the poem, Yet do I marvel at this curious matter /To make a poet black, and bid him sing (lines 13-14).We search the speakers lack of faith in God throughout the poem, which emphasizes his frustration and tribulation with having to endure the everyday struggles of being discriminated against for being black. He u ses mythology to further discredit Gods actions by disagreeing with His punishments, declare/ If merely brute mood dooms Sisyphus/ To Struggle up a never-ending stair. (lines 6-8). The narrator is essentially symbolise that Gods punishments are unfair cruelty, not only towards figures from classic mythology, but towards him as well. The speaker considers Gods actions to be unreasonable, and we see this in his bitter words, Inscrutable His ways are, and immune/ To catechism by a mind too strewn (lines 9-10).The comparison of Cullens Yet do I Marvel and Hughes I, Too lies strongly in the last two lines of Cullens poem. He finally tells us, straightforward, where his animosity lies. In the last two lines, he vehemently tells us that he finds it unfair that because he is a black poet, his voice will not be heard he will be ignored and pushed aside, just like the speaker in Hughes poem. However, the two poems also contrast with each other in that Cullens poem concludes with the speake r reiterating his unequivocal feelings of inferiority and lack of faith. Hughes poem closes in a more positive manner wherein the speaker asserts his faith and pride in declaring his right to be treated equal.Even with all of the contrasting aspects of these two poems, they do share a principle theme of racial inequality. Additionally, in these two poems Hughes and Cullen were addressing the mass society. They wanted to voice their concerns with racial discrimination. With Hughes use of vivid imagery and Cullens use of symbolism, they collectively utilized the art of numbers to effectively illustrate and express personal hardships of African Americans.