Analysis of 'America' by Claude McKay

“American History” asks us to search for something that we can’t see, and, in context of the poem, what we cannot see is the animosity towards black Americans. In this poem, Harper confronts this regressive notion of black Americans with his usage of punctuation and ability

McKay’s text “One Year After” impacted African Americans. He is telling people the stuff they did to people when they were slaves like lashing them. They also sometimes burned people to death. “But when the terror thins and, spent, withdraws, Leaving me wondering awhile, I pause-- But soon again the risky ways I tread! No rigid road for me, no peace, no rest, While molten elements run through my blood; And beauty-burning bodies manifest Their warm, heart-melting motions to be wooed;”(“One Year After”).McKay is saying that the African Americans are being beaten and it isn't right. He is saying this to make people feel bad and have equal rights. He wrote it to make people feel bad so that then maybe African Americans and white people can have

McKay talks about how that living in a country that is just filled with racism is extremely hard, but he still loves America because she made him a stronger person. He says that “her hate” gave him strength and that he is willing to fight against her like “a rebel fronts a king in state.” He knows how mighty American is and loves her because of that, but time is being wasted. The longer America is ignorant and racist towards African Americans, the more time is waste because many African Americans can achieve amazing things for America.

Born in Jamaica, Claude McKay was introduced to a life of ______. Growing up, McKay was sent to live with his oldest brother, a teacher, so that he could be given the best education possible. McKay began to write poetry at the age of 10 under the influence of Walter Jekyll, an English man who soon became his mentor, and encouraged him to write dialect verse. Having heard about Booker T Washington, McKay enrolled himself at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. He went in with the intention of studying agronomy; it was at this time he first encountered the harsh realities of racism in America. In 1919, the front pages of Washington newspaper were filled with cases of alleged sexual assaults, said to have been committed by African Americans. The white

Claude McKay’s Harlem Renaissance poem “America” literally describes a man’s ambivalent feelings for a woman who simultaneously weakens and strengthens him. The first four lines introduce the speaker’s unconditional love for a seemingly antagonistic woman. She sinks “her tiger’s tooth” into his throat and steals his “breath of life,” presenting herself as a dangerous predator (McKay 2, 3). The woman is further convicted of “sapping the breath,” yet also “inflating the potency of an […] ungendered lyric ‘I’,” which explains how he could have feelings for such a woman (Maxwell). The speaker’s conflicting emotions are reminiscent in a different scenario shown in lines 5-10 when he is revealed to be a rebel who stands before a king with nothing

In the text it states “If we must die, O let us nobly die” (Mckay, 1919) This quote shows that he wanted to die like a human. Mckay also said he did not want to die like a hog, in the text it states “If we must die, let it not be like hogs” (Mckay, 1919) this quote shows how bad he was treated like animals. Mckay did not fight back with punches he fought back with the other slaves by protesting, going to courts etc.. In the text it states “Like men we'll face the murderous, cowardly pack,Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!”

The poem “Let America be America Again” by Langston Hughes depicts the sorrows and injustices that segregation has caused for countless people and families. He states that “There’s never been equality for me, Nor freedom in this ‘homeland of the free.’” People who have hoped and worked for this new life in which they can finally be happy, have their dreams dashed by the “American” who judges them without sight of his own faults. A true American treats everyone he meets with equal respect, and sees them for what they can become here in

Have you ever felt excluded from society? Many people throughout history have, and the speaker in Claude McKay’s poem “America” is no different. The speaker is a man who is educated but is living in America during a period of violence and conflict. He has a strong response to being excluded that has advantages and disadvantages.

In the fight for equality, people of color often feel isolated and separated from those whose privilege reinforces their oppression. However, there are and always have been white people who see the inequalities that are practiced in society and speak out against them in hopes of reaching equality for all. Langston Hughes used his voice in poetry to express his experience as a black man in the United States during the Civil Rights Movement, and his is a household name. There is no doubt that his words have power. The reader expects to feel his experience and gain empathy and understanding through his poetry. In his poem, “Let America Be America Again,” Hughes presents his experience of American life in a powerful contrast to the experience

His poem, “Let America Be America Again”, questioned the American promise by structuring the poem so it can be read from the perspectives of different types of people in America, especially those persecuted, and it enlightened people on how a large population of immigrants and others did not have the life everyone guaranteed in America. He also strengthened this idea by repeatedly stating “America was never America to me” (127). This statement implies that the American promise was never real and most immigrants never experienced any of the positive freedoms of living in

Throughout the poem, the author chooses simple diction. This makes the tone straightforward and blunt, like a black America who simply expresses himself instead of sermonizing about discrimination. Thereby, readers can accept the poem’s argument more easily. Furthermore, the author writes the poem mostly in long sentences to emphasize on short yet important sentences such as “That’s America.”, “Be we are. That’s true!”

To be an American is to universally endure, as a country, as a community, and as oneself. To endure is to suffer patiently, and to remain in existence. For example, one can look at the struggles of Black America, whose American experience has been defined by intolerance and ignorance. In the 1920’s privileged White Americans danced on in the jazz age whilst their Black counterparts, no longer subjugated by law, were still subjugated in practice, downtrodden and impoverished. In his poem “Let America Be America Again”, African-American poet Langston Hughes recognizes this unfair divide, adding that, “There’s never been equality for me, Nor Freedom in this ‘“homeland of the free.’” The hyphen in African-American is important, it is direct evidence of their resilience, because despite the mistreatments by their own peers, they still hold strong to their place as Americans.

It is hard to believe that the American Dream is equally attainable in a world where hate and discrimination is alive. In the poem America by Claude Mckay he is treated

In the poem ,“America”, Claude McKay uses figurative language and diction to create a dark tone, a powerful empowering tone, and an optimistic tone. The theme of double consciousness of African-Americans is supported in the poem and the poem itself also connects to the purpose of the Harlem Renaissance which was to fight back racial hate and stereotypes with black empowerment.

Within March and many different primary sources, an array of themes are revealed and reflected upon, often discussing life during the 19th century in America. Through such themes, the constant joys and struggles of life are divulged. For instance, the theme of hypocrisy is introduced in a multitude of 19th century sources, including speeches and poems. Additionally, the theme of hypocrisy is expanded upon in March by the characters of Mr. March and Marmee, as their ideals often juxtapose their actions. Hence, both March and the different primary sources combine to demonstrate the timeless theme of hypocrisy, addressing the notion of what is promised and what is truly given.