In Langston Hughes’s poem I, Too , sitting at the table symbolizes equality, inclusion, and recognition within American society. The poem’s speaker, a Black man, is initially excluded and sent to eat in the kitchen when company comes, representing racial segregation and marginalization: "They send me to eat in the kitchen / When company comes" (lines 3–4)
. The kitchen here is a space of exclusion and inferiority, where the speaker is hidden away from the main dining area occupied by white people
. However, the speaker confidently asserts that this exclusion is temporary and envisions a future where he will have a rightful place at the table:
"Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes" (lines 8–10)
This "table" is a powerful metaphor for full participation and equality in society-a place of dignity, respect, and voice. To "sit at the table" means to be included in the decision-making and social fabric of the nation, no longer marginalized or silenced
. The speaker’s declaration that he will be at the table "tomorrow" expresses hope and determination for racial justice and the eventual recognition of Black Americans as equal members of the American family
. Thus, sitting at the table in I, Too represents the aspiration for racial equality, social inclusion, and the affirmation of Black identity and worth within the broader American identity. The poem’s final lines, "They’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed," reinforce the speaker’s confidence that this inclusion will come with acknowledgment of his inherent dignity and beauty
