Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Langston Hughes's poem "I Too" from 1926 Whose philosophy does this poem more accurately represent, Booker T. Washington’s or W.E.B Du Bois's?

In the years near the turn of the 19th to the 20th
century, there was a basic disagreement among African-American
leaders.


Some leaders, particularly Booker T. Washington,
felt that African-Americans should concentrate less on political activism and more on
practical education that would help them become financially independent
citizens.


Others, especially W.E.B. Du Bois, felt that
Washington was too eager to compromise.  Du Bois felt that African-Americans should
fight actively and forcefully for equal rights and equal
opportunity.


In the poem "I Too," Langston Hughes seems to
borrow from both the Washington and the Du Bois
philosophies.


Similar to Washington, Hughes does not seem
to advocate any political activism in this poem.  Rather, he urges his fellows to "eat
well" and "grow strong."


The result of this
self-development, however, has a DuBoisian tinge of  bold self-assertion to
it:


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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...



It should be noted
that Booker T. Washington was probably not as accommodating as he sometimes seemed. 
Private papers show that he quietly supported many assertive activities that he
sometimes seemed to disagree with in his public statements. 

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