American Identity - Americanism

Centuries of slavery is no way to kick off your first experiences in a new land. Compare that with the Irish who had moderate harassment. I would say the Irish got off easy. But let us not make light of one of the darkest chapters in American history. Langston Hughes, along with many others in the Harlem Renaissance, contributed to the great pantheon of American literature. Their message had a distinct theme: inclusion. In Langston Hughes’ poem “I, Too, Sing America”, he talks about how blacks have been treated as second class citizens, “They send me to eat in the kitchen,/When company comes,” but will be treated as equals, in the future, “Tomorrow,/I’ll be at the table,/When company comes.” Hughes was clearly optimistic about the future of blacks in America. At some point in American history, blacks were treated as second-class citizens, and at some point in the future they will be considered as equal first-class citizens. Not only does Hughes argue this, but he also argues that America (obviously referring to white America) will realize what errors they have made in making the “what-will-be first-class citizens” feel second-class for so long, they will regret it, “Besides,/They’ll see how beautiful I am,/And be ashamed–“. To close, Hughes argues, simply, “I, too, am America.”

Langston Hughes continues this pattern in his writings, when he wrote “America” (I see a pattern in his titles), with such lines as, “America is seeking the stars,/America is seeking the future,/You are America,/I am America.” This line preaches not against the establishment in America, but preaches toward the future that will be inclusive and less divisive. Throughout the poem, Hughes makes references to famous, yet lesser known, blacks throughout American history, and says that they, too, are America. This is Hughes’ argument that blacks have been a valuable part of America’s history, and rightfully should be a part of its future.

This all leads to an argument that there is a black community that can articulate the argument that they, too, should be included among the first-class citizens. Also, there is an argument that there is a “New Negro”, that is different from the “older negro”. Alain Locke makes this argument in his edited collection “The New Negro” (from 1925). In the essay, Locke states that the black race in America will enter a new age, and that is an age of contribution and acceptance into an otherwise exclusive society. “With...renewed self-respect and self-dependence, the life of the Negro community is bound to enter a new dynamic phase, the buoyancy from within compensating for whatever pressure there may be of conditions from without.” This is a message of perseverance from racial tensions, due to inner greatness and integrity. What is the origin of all this greatness that Locke speaks of? The greatness stems from the Harlem Renaissance, and all the intellectualism and creative thought derived thereof. Locke totes Harlem as the new greatness that will be the foundation of the new negro in America–a smart, articulate, contributory, group that will stand up for what they believe in and make the American tapestry more beautiful.

In Langston Hughes’ poems, he argued against a ruling-class in America that was white and promoted a white upper class and black and minority lower class. Not socioeconomically, but culturally and civilly. However, Hughes also pointed toward a more harmonious future where whites, blacks, and all minorities could live equally with each other, all as first-class citizens. Alain Locke writes in “The New Negro” about the Harlem Renaissance, and how it shows the upward mobility of a race, and how that race will appear in the future. Both Locke and Hughes make this case beautifully.

Works Cited:

Hughes, Langston, “I, Too, Sing America,” March 15, 2007,
Hughes, Langston, “America,” March 15, 2007, http://www-personal.umd.umich.edu/~ppennock/Harlem%20Ren%20poetry.htm
Locke, Alain, “The New Negro,” 1925. (From ERes)

Vice President Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama