A Joyful Response to American Identity

Which line from "I, Too" most directly responds to the following line from "I Hear America Singing"? "Each singing what belongs to him or her, and to none else"

b) "I, too, sing America"

In Langston Hughes' poem "I, Too," the line "I, too, sing America" is a direct response to the individualism and diversity highlighted in Walt Whitman's poem "I Hear America Singing." While Whitman's poem celebrates the various songs of different individuals, Hughes' poem acknowledges the lack of representation of the African American experience in American society.

Hughes' use of the word "too" emphasizes the idea that African Americans also have a place in the fabric of America. Despite facing discrimination and marginalization, the speaker asserts their right to sing and be part of the national identity.

The line "Each singing what belongs to him or her, and to none else" from Whitman's poem contrasts with the notion that all voices should be included in the chorus of American identity. Hughes' response challenges the exclusionary nature of American society at the time, advocating for a more inclusive and diverse representation of the American experience.