I Too by Langston Hughes vs One Song America Before I Go...

Alexander Tharpe English 1102 Dr. Wurz 29 September 2013 Originality and Nationality One of the most disturbing things in today’s culture is a loss of originality and nationality. People are no longer proud to be Americans and instead of pushing for new heights people follow in the footsteps of others. People today need heir sense of self back and need to start taking pride in what they do and where they’re from. In â€Å"One Song, America, Before I Go† by Walt Whitman and â€Å"I Too† by Langston Hughes, the speakers celebrated the concepts of individuality, originality, and nationality. People of all kinds are influenced by their everyday life and it shows in their work. Walt Whitman is no exception to this rule. Whitman was born in 1819†¦show more content†¦I think he is saying that not only will there always be the Grand Canyon and the crystal clear beaches but the fertile land will last seemingly forever and bring great things to America for centuries to come. He backs up this idea when he sings, à ¢â‚¬Å"I’d sing o’er all the rest, with trumpet sounds / For thee- the Future† (Whitman Lines 2-3). I believe he is saying he wants to get up and sing for the future because he knows what wonderful things it should hold. Finally Whitman backs up everything he’s stated by saying â€Å"Belief I sing† which shows that he actually does believe in what he is saying. Just as Walt Whitman’s literature was influenced by what he experienced in life, Langston Hughes’ literature shows direct relationships with what he was going through in his everyday life. While racism may have shaped Hughes’ everyday life, Walt Whitman shaped Hughes as we know him today. Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes have a connection that not many people come to realize. It is obvious that Langston Hughes stood for equal rights but it’s commonly overlooked that Whitman stood his ground for equal rights as well. Whitman commonly voiced his strong opinions on abo lishing slavery and promoting equal rights for all men. I believe this played at least a small role in some of Hughes’ poems and stories in his lifetime. Even though Langston Hughes was born during troubling times in