This poem was written to chronicle the struggle of African-Americans to demonstrate how they, too, are Americans. The color of their skin doesn’t make them any less of a citizen than whites. He sings America just like someone else would sing the national anthem; with pride and patriotism. Hughes wants to show that skin color has no affect on his pride and love for his country.
Scholars think that the title is inspired by Whitman’s “I Hear America Singing”, a poem that praises the working class.
Expand
+2
1
Share
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning