I, Too, Sing America

Poem by Langston Hughes

Coleman 2009

I, too, sing America.I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchenWhen company comes,

But I laugh,And eat well,

And grow strong.Tomorrow,

I'll be at the tableWhen company comes.

Nobody'll dareSay to me,

"Eat in the kitchen,"Then.

Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed--I, too, am America.

Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams die, Life is a broken-

winged bird that cannot fly,

Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams go, Life is a barren

field, Frozen with snow

Langston Hughes

What is a Winding Sheet?Before fancy coffins with pillows and

satin, bodies were wrapped in a sheet and laid in a wooden box.

That sheet was called a “winding sheet.”

Thus the connotation is death.

• Mr. Johnson• Mae Johnson• Forewoman• Coffee Shop Girl• Discrimination• The Anger

Plot Understanding: Who?

Plot Understanding: How?• How does Mr. Johnson feel about the night shift?

• How long has he been working the night shift?

The Night Shift• More than 22 million Americans work

other than 9-5• Physically difficult to sleep during

day• Problems with person's health, on-

the-job safety, task performance, memory and mood 

Plot Understanding• Where did Mr. Johnson and Mae work?

• How were they financially?

The Factory Job

Plot Understanding: Why?• Why is Mr. Johnson late for work this day?

• Why does he beat his wife?

Friday the 13th• triskaidekaphobia  

– (trisKIdecaphobia) • paraskevidekatriaphobia (?)• Started in 17th century, perhaps with

Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales• About 10 % of Americans believe

Friday 13th to be unlucky

Cultural Lucky Numbers?• Three

– Beginning, Middle, End – Father, Son, Holy Ghost– Clotho (the spinner), Lachesis (the

dispenser), and Atropos (the cutter) – Congressional, Judicial, Presidential

Other Lucky Numbers?• Two• Four• Six• Seven• Nine• Twelve

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Discrimination / RacismReal

ForewomanLn 105-117

PerceivedCoffee Shop Girl

Ln 233-235,240-242

•Were her actions inappropriate?•Did she know Mr. Johnson was angry?

•Should he have been angry?

A Main Character: Anger• Gentle argument about going to work

ln 57-61• Physically furious with forewoman ln

105-115• Thinking about the situation ln 145-

155• Coffee Shop Girl ln 229-242• Mae, his wife ln 308-312

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The Anger’s Impetus Forewoman

“And the niggers are the worst…” ln 106

(Red Lipstick)Coffee shop girlLifted her hair ln 216

(Scarlet Lipstick)

Mae• “Old hungry nigger” ln 306

• Lifted her hair ln 282(Dark Red lipstick)

The Anger’s ProgressionWith Mae

“He couldn’t bring himself to talk to her roughly or threaten to strike her like a lot of men might have done. He wasn’t made that way”

Ln 60-61

With Forewoman“He stepped closer to her. His fists were doubled. His lips were drawn back into a think narrow line. A vein in his forehead stood out swollen, thick.”

Ln 112-114

The Anger’s Progression

With Coffee Shop Girl“He felt his hands began to tingle… They were clenched tight, hard, into fists… He wanted to… hit her so hard that the scarlet lipstick on her mouth would smear…”

Ln 230-233

The Anger’s Progression

With Mae“There was the smacking sound of soft flesh being struck by a hard object… so hard that the dark red lipstick had blurred and spread…He kept sticking her…He had lost control over his hands… his hands reached for her face again and yet again.”

Ln 314-325

The Anger’s Progression

“King of Pain”

The Police

Song ExcerptThere's a little black spot on the sun todayIt's the same old thing as yesterdayThere's a black hat caught in a high tree topThere's a flag-pole rag and the wind won't stop

I have stood here before inside the pouring rainWith the world turning circles running 'round my brainI guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reignBut it's my destiny to be the king of pain

To Consider:• Significance of story title?• Is Mr. Johnson naturally violent? • Explain: the :anger-born energy that

had not been used had spread through him like a poison.

• Who was responsible for Mr. Johnson’s actions?

To Consider:• Do you blame Mr. Johnson for finally

boiling over? Should he have exercised more self-control? What other options did he have to release his anger?

• Is violence ever the answer?

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For More InformationEmail Mrs. C

ccoleman@clmn.net

Visit Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net