A Comparison of Two Poems by Black Poets Essay

Countee Cullen and Langston Hughes are twain of the most recognized African American poets of the Harlem Renaissance. Countee Cullens Yet Do I Marvel and Langston Hughes I, also are comparable rimes in that their interchangeable themes are representational of the authors personal tribulations of racial contrast. By analyse these two poesys, we get a glimpse of the reality of the injustices of racism during the 1920s by two bombastic Black poets.Cullen and Hughes were born within a socio-economic class of each other, and consequently wrote these poems in the same year (1925). This is significant because it reflects the fourth dimension in which racial inequality was prominent. Both poets were struggling with their emotions of being African American minorities in a society of White superiority. Their poems reflect the injustice of racism, which is especially revealed in Langston Hughes poem I, in addition.Most poems are filled with symbolism and abstract ideas, and I, same wise is an example of such. This poem does not rhyme, nor prison term patter truly be measured. In order to understand and grasp the meaning behind this poem, it demand to be read 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 vocalizer is addressing the country as a whole. Hughes use of excellent language and vivid imagination effectively expresses the speakers feelings towards racism.This poem explores the injustices of racism through the eyes of a black consideration 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 character with self poise. Hughes uses fiction when he says tomorrow (line 8). He is indicating that the word tomorrow implies the future. He has faith that in the course of time, everyone allow for become equal, Tomorrow, /Ill be at the table /When company comes. /Nobodyll dare/Say to me, / eat up 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 apex that Hughes is trying to make clear is that African Americans are Americans too, thus they should not be discriminated against for the color of their skin.The themes stand for 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 contrivance of ABAB BCBC DD EE FF GG (every other line rhymes, with the exception of the conk out two which rhyme consecutively). The natural flow of this poem helps us (the reader) become more engaged in Cullens anguish filled p ortrayal 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 struggle with racial injustices. Although the theme of racial inequality is common in both poems, Cullens poem focuses more on the speakers constant 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 ulterior contradicts his faith in God due to the hardships of discrimination that African Americans plyd in the last lines of the poem, Yet do I marvel at this curious thing /To make a poet black, and bid him sing (lines 13-14).We confab the speakers lack of faith in God throughout the poem, which emphasizes his frustration and affliction with having to endure the everyday struggles of being discriminated agai nst for being black. He uses mythology to further depreciate Gods actions by disagreeing with His punishments, take for/ If merely brute caprice dooms Sisyphus/ To Struggle up a never-ending stair. (lines 6-8). The narrator is essentially intend that Gods punishments are unfair cruelty, not only towards figures from Greek 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 share 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 speaker reiterating his unequivocal feelings of inferiority and lack of faith. Hughes poem closes in a more positive trend wherein the speaker asserts his faith and pride in declaring his right to be treated equal.Even with all of the incompatible 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 aggregate 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 poetry to effectively illustrate and express personal hardships of African Americans.