Final answer:
The main theme of the poem 'I, Too' is the desire for equality and the fight against racial discrimination. The speaker's experience of being asked to eat in the kitchen supports this theme and emphasizes the injustice faced by African Americans. The poet's word choice creates a hopeful tone and conveys a belief in a better future.
Step-by-step explanation:
Part A: A main theme of the poem 'I, Too' is the desire for equality and the fight against racial discrimination. The speaker expresses the belief that, despite being marginalized and forced to eat in the kitchen, they will not be defeated and will rise above the injustice they face.
Part B: The detail from the poem that best supports this theme is the speaker being asked to eat in the kitchen. This detail symbolizes the segregation and discrimination experienced by African Americans during that time.
The detail of the speaker being asked to eat in the kitchen is important to the theme because it represents the degrading treatment and segregation faced by African Americans. It emphasizes the inequality and unfairness they experienced, which further strengthens the theme of fighting for equality.
The speaker is affected emotionally when asked to eat in the kitchen. They feel a sense of injustice and anger at being treated as inferior. However, the speaker also displays resilience and determination by declaring that they will not be put down by this treatment.
The poet's word choice contributes to the hopeful tone of the poem by using phrases like 'tomorrow' and 'I, too, am America.' These words convey a sense of optimism and belief in a better future, despite the hardships faced.