A reference to Walt Whitman's "I Hear America Singing" => "I, Too". Langston Hughes' poem adds the African American identity to Whitman's list of ordinary people who constitute and contribute to American collective identity.
Paradox of social injustice => "I, Too". Hughes depicts the social inequality of black people, who are traditionally confined to servitude. He hopes, however, that this will change eventually.
Uses set meter and rhyme scheme => "From the Dark Tower". The poem's rhyme scheme is ABBA.
Symbol of wasted effort => "From the Dark Tower". Black people are the ones who plant, while white people reap.
Stone of anger and resentment => "From the Dark Tower". It depicts black people's anger at being constantly and systematically oppressed.
Uses free verse => "I, Too". Hughes' poem has a conversational tone. The free verse depicts the inner freedom that the speaker feels, and wants to transform into real freedom and equality.
