I Hear America Singing I,Too, Sing America

I always like to see two different sides to a story, idea, or situation. That's exactly what was given through the two poems; "I Hear America Singing" by Walt Whitman and "I, Too, Sing America" by Langston Hughes. Both of these poems relate to the "American Dream" era that occur ed around the 1920's. Whitman experienced this era as a middle class, white man with the world at his fingertips. Hughes experienced this era as a low class, black man with nothing but the clothes on his back. These two different views and ideas come out through each of their poems. Whitman focuses on each individual person as workers, working toward that America Dream and having nothing stopping them. Hughes focuses on the fact that everyone else was living this dream life while he was considered, "the darker brother." He was never given the same chance as the "carpenter, boatman, shoemaker, and wood-cutter."
Seeing these two views gives readers a better idea of not only the personal struggles, but also the overall experience of the era.