The Colour of Home

PART EIGHT

I, Too

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

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—

I, too, am America.

LANGSTON HUGHES, 1926