America's history is marred by evident contradictions between its aspirations and the

harsh reality of the discrimination against African Americans. These are illustrated by the

differences between the Preamble of the United States Constitution and Langston Hughes’ poem

“I Too”. The Constitution lays out the foundational goals and principles of the U.S. government,

painting a vision of a more perfect Union for all citizens. However, Hughes' poem reveals the

truth that this vision did not extend to everyone, especially those who were not white males.

While the Preamble begins with; “We the People of the United States”, it took nearly a century

and the passing of the 15th amendment, for African Americans to gain full citizenship, and even

then they continued to face systematic inequality and discrimination. “I too” emphasizes this

injustice endured by African Americans, symbolizing their exclusion from the metaphorical

“table” of equality. Despite this, Hughes' poem reinforces the determination of African

Americans to one day claim their rightful place and achieve the freedoms promised by the

Preamble. These contradictions highlight Black Americans' fight for equality, justice, and civil

rights, and they serve as stark reminders that despite the promise of a united citizenry, these

ambitions were not fulfilled.