Langston Hughes

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.

appeared in:

동광 vol. 30 (1932/01) as 나도미국사람이다, tl. 한흑구
신인문학 vol. 2, issue 4 (1935/06) as 도전

조선일보 (1934.01.13) in 흑인문학, 니그로문학의 성장, tl. 한설야

accessed 2022/10/31, from poets.org