Similarities:
* Celebrating American Voices: Both poems celebrate the voices of diverse Americans. Whitman highlights the "varied carols" of workers, while Hughes asserts his right to "sing America" alongside others.
Differences:
* Explicitly Addressing Racism: Hughes' poem directly confronts the reality of racism in America, using lines like "They'll see how beautiful I am/And be ashamed," which are absent in Whitman's more idealized vision.
* Focus on Resistance: Hughes emphasizes the defiance and resilience of marginalized communities, while Whitman's poem presents a more harmonious and unified view of America.