Read the following excerpt from Langston Hughes's poem "I, Too" (1926):
> 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.
Which of the following best describes the central theme of this excerpt?
- AThe advocacy for Black emigration to Africa to build a separate nation rather than seeking equality in the United States.
- BThe passive acceptance of second-class citizenship and racial segregation as unchangeable aspects of American life.
- CThe absolute endorsement of Marcus Garvey's Black Star Line and direct political activism over cultural expression.
- The confident assertion of African American resilience and the inevitable inclusion of Black people as equal members of American society.Answer
Answer
The confident assertion of African American resilience and the inevitable inclusion of Black people as equal members of American society.
The correct option is correct because the poem serves as a classic expression of the New Negro Movement's spirit. The speaker acknowledges current segregation ("eat in the kitchen") but defiantly asserts strength, growth, and the certainty of future equality ("I'll be at the table"), claiming an indisputable role in the American identity ("I, too, sing America").
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The New Negro Movement and Harlem Renaissance literature focused heavily on self-determination, racial pride, resilience, and asserting the rightful place of African Americans within the fabric of American society.