While “I Hear America Singing” is celebrated, some critics argue that Whitman’s poem overlooks the struggles and injustices faced by marginalized groups in America, such as enslaved people, women, and indigenous communities. These omissions have prompted responses like Hughes’s “I, Too”, which seek to fill the gaps in Whitman’s vision Langston Hughes’ poem “I, Too” had a profound impact on the African-American community, serving as a powerful affirmation of racial pride, resilience, and hope during the Harlem Renaissance. Published in 1926, the poem resonated deeply with a community striving for recognition, equality, and self-worth amidst systemic racism and segregation. This inquiry will have students explore the juxtaposition of Whitman’s, “I Hear America Singing” and Langston Hughes’ “I, Too” in order to explore the writers’ versions of America.
