Designing the Future Activity Seats at the Table
Name:
Drawing the Poem "I, Too"
In the poem, the speaker is sent to the kitchen when company comes. He dreams of a future where he sits at the table with everyone else. Draw these two places below.
1. The Kitchen (Alone)
Sent Away • Working • Hidden
2. The Table (Together)
Welcome • Strength • Belonging
Your Thoughts
Look at your drawing of **The Table**. What are two things you drew that show people are happy and welcome there? Why did you draw them?
Seats at the Table Worksheet Seats at the Table
Analyzing "I, Too" by Langston Hughes
Name:
Date:
Historical Context
Langston Hughes wrote this poem in 1926. During this time, Black Americans faced Jim Crow laws and segregation. He wrote this as a claim of belonging—that he, and all Black Americans, were an essential part of the nation despite being treated as second-class citizens.
I, Too
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.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.
Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—
I, too, am America.
Guided Annotation
1. Identify
Underline "darker brother" . What does this reveal about his identity?
2. Contrast
Circle "laugh" and "grow strong" . How does he handle exclusion?
3. The Shift
Box the word "Tomorrow" . What change is he predicting?
Think: Why does he wait for "Tomorrow" instead of fighting today? Does he seem patient or powerful?
Analysis & Reflection
1. Symbolism: The Kitchen vs. The Table
The kitchen is where work happens out of sight; the table is where decisions are made.
The Kitchen:
Represents exclusion, segregation, and being treated as invisible.
The Table:
How will the "table" be different from the "kitchen"?
The speaker predicts that "tomorrow" he will be at the table. This means that in the future ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
2. The Evolution of "I, Too"
Compare the first line ("I, too, sing America") to the last line ("I, too, am America").
Changing from "sing" to "am" is important because it shows the speaker is no longer just a voice outside looking in, but instead ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Claim Your Place: "I, Too"
Identify a space where you—or a group you belong to—have felt undervalued. Use the structure of the poem below to claim your right to be there.
I, too, ____________________________________________________________
I am the _________________________________________________________
They ______________________________________________________________
But I ______________________________________________________________
And ________________________________________________________________
Tomorrow, _________________________________________________________
I will _______________________________________________________________
I, too, am __________________________________________________________
Stronger Brother Analysis Worksheet Master Analysis
"I, Too" by Langston Hughes
Student:
Date:
Historical Context
Written in 1926, Langston Hughes composed this poem during the Harlem Renaissance. In an era of Jim Crow laws and deep racial segregation, Hughes wrote this as a bold claim of belonging—insisting that he and all Black Americans are an essential part of the American family.
I, Too
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.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.
Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—
I, too, am America.
Guided Annotation
1. Identity
Underline "darker brother" . What does this metaphor reveal about his place in the "family"?
2. The Reaction
Circle the actions "laugh" and "grow strong" . How does he handle exclusion?
3. The Shift
Box the word "Tomorrow" . What specific change is the speaker predicting?
Critical Thinking: Notice how the poem moves from today's pain to tomorrow's triumph. Does he seem angry, or does he seem certain of his victory?
Part II: The Deeper Dive
4
The Verb Vault
Analyize the actions the speaker takes while he is in the kitchen. What do these choices tell us about his character?
"Laugh"
Why laugh instead of cry? What does this show about his spirit?
"Eat Well"
How is "eating well" an act of preparation for the future?
"Grow Strong"
Is this strength physical, mental, or both? Explain.
5
Symbolism: Kitchen vs. Table
The Kitchen
Describe what the kitchen represents. (Hint: Invisibility, labor, segregation)
The Table
Describe what the table represents. (Hint: Power, voice, belonging)
6
The Gaze: Who are "They"?
A. Who does "They" likely represent in the context of 1920s America?
B. How does the balance of power shift from "sending" to "seeing"?
Seats at the Table Teacher Guide Teacher Guide
Seats at the Table: "I, Too" by Langston Hughes
Teacher Resource
Lesson Purpose
This independent study focuses on "I, Too" as a response to Walt Whitman's "I Hear America Singing." Students analyze metaphor (the kitchen vs. the table) and the evolution of the speaker’s tone from resilience to confident belonging.
Key Standards
RL.9-10.4: Analyze word choice and tone.
RL.9-10.9: Analyze transformations of source material.
Timeline (40 Mins)
05m
Context & first silent read.
10m
Guided Annotation (Page 1).
15m
Analysis & Sentence Starters.
10m
Creative Extension writing.
Facilitation Notes
The Kitchen
Represents invisibility and racial exclusion.
Tone
The "laugh" indicates internal strength.
Extension
Can be applied to any personal context.
Common Misconceptions
Remind students that the "kitchen" is a metaphor for segregation and the "table" is a metaphor for social power.
Key: Seats at the Table
1. Guided Annotation (Exemplars)
Step 1
He is part of the American "family" but treated as unequal.
Step 2
He builds strength while being excluded.
Step 3
He predicts a future of undeniable equality.
2. Understanding the Metaphor
Kitchen: Segregation and invisibility.
Table: Equality and social power.
3. Analysis & Creative
Table Change: "...he will have equal rights and no longer be hidden."
Am vs Sing: "...he is the core of the country's identity."
Creative: Rookies on the bench → Starting lineup; Undervalued artist → Museum walls.
Key: Master Analysis
Verb Vault
Laugh: Joy as defiance. Eat Well: Self-nourishment. Grow Strong: Internal preparation for power.
Symbolism
Kitchen: Segregated, invisible labor. Table: Equal citizenship and social voice.
The Gaze
A: White society/segregationists.
Master Analysis Answer Key Answer Key
Master Analysis: "I, Too" by Langston Hughes
Teacher Resource
1. Guided Annotation Exemplars
1. Identity (Darker Brother)
Key Insight: This metaphor suggests the speaker is part of the "American family" but is treated like a second-class sibling. It highlights both the shared blood/identity and the racial segregation of the time.
2. The Reaction (Laugh/Grow Strong)
Key Insight: The speaker refuses to be broken by exclusion. Laughter is an act of defiance and joy. "Growing strong" indicates that he is using this period of segregation to build the internal power necessary for the coming change.
3. The Shift (Tomorrow)
Key Insight: "Tomorrow" is a metaphor for the future end of segregation. The speaker isn't just hoping for change; he is predicting it as an absolute certainty.
2. The Verb Vault
"Laugh"
Shows psychological resilience. By laughing, he denies "them" the satisfaction of seeing him hurt or angry.
"Eat Well"
Suggests self-care and preparation. He is nourishing his body and mind while he is "out of sight."
"Grow Strong"
Represents the accumulation of power (political, social, and personal) that will make his exclusion impossible in the future.
3. Symbolism: Kitchen vs. Table
The Kitchen
The kitchen represents segregation and second-class citizenship . In the 1920s, it was the space for invisible labor. The speaker is "sent" there, meaning he is forced into a lower status by others. It is the place for the undervalued.
The Table
The table represents social power, political voice, and full inclusion . To be at the table is to be recognized as an equal member of the "family" (the nation). It is where "company" (society) must acknowledge his presence and worth.
4. The Gaze: Who are "They"?
Response A
"They" represents white society and the systemic power structures of Jim Crow America that benefited from and enforced racial segregation.
Response B
In the first half, "They" are active oppressors (they "send" him away). In the second half, the speaker takes control. "They" become passive observers who "see" him and feel "ashamed." The power moves from the oppressor to the person claiming their rights.
5. Beauty as Resistance
Claiming Beauty
In 1926, Black people were often depicted in dehumanizing, ugly ways in media. By calling himself "beautiful," Hughes is reclaiming his humanity and dignity. It is an act of self-love that rejects the lies of racism.
