I, Too, Am America

Title: I, Too, Am America
Genre: Coretta Scott King
Author: Langston Hughes
Awards: Coretta Scott King (2013)
Age Group: 7 to 10-year-olds

Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I would use this in a fifth or fourth-grade classroom. Due to the magnitude of the words, I believe this book is more suitable for upper elementary classrooms. This illustrated book version of Langston Hughes' poem would be great for social studies cross-curricular activities as well as an example of poetry in ELA. Although the poem is short, the words are very powerful and along with a brief explanation at the end of the book of the illustrations, it is a great book to learn about history and poetry.

Summary: In this short poem by Langston Hughes, the reader is given very short lines. The beginning of the poem discusses how "I" also sings America, "I" is described as the darker brother who is sent to the kitchen when company comes over. Despite being sent to the kitchen, there is still laughter and growth taking place for the main character. The main character then proclaims they will no longer be sent to the kitchen when company comes over tomorrow, that no one will dare tell them to eat in the kitchen. The poem ends with the narrator saying that those who sent them to the kitchen before will become ashamed when they see how beautiful they are because they too are America.