English 11 12/19/17 If we must die “Though out numbered let’s us show are brave” (McKay‚ 10). In the 1920s‚ a cultural movement in which African Americans moved up north and spread their culture was an era called the Harlem Renaissance. During this time‚ there were many writers spreading the culture of African Americans. Poems were a popular way to express their culture at the time. Many of these poems deal with racism in everyday lives‚ and the struggle for equality. Claude McKay informs readers on
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Claude McKay was a Jamaican poet who created a literary movement and heavily influenced the tone for the Harlem Renaissance. In “If We Must Die”‚ he expresses how he wants to retaliate for prejudice and abuse of African-Americans within a english sonnet. McKay employs the english sonnet form to create a couplet that explains the purpose of this fight as the quatrains describe how they will fight. In the first quatrain McKay introduces the the issue; it is announced that they are being attacked.
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The poem “ If We Must Die” by Claude McKay is a response to Red Summer of 1919. The Red Summer is a series of race riots that took place in over thirty cities in the United States. In the poem the speaker is insisting that he and his comrades are being attacked and they know that they are not going to make it out alive. Since the speaker and his allies know that their demise is definite‚ they want to die fighting with honor and like men. Mckay uses a variety of literary forms when writing this poem
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Claude McKay was born in Naime Castle‚ Jamaica and he was the youngest out of his siblings and began writing poetry at the age of 10. Claude Mckay‚ was a Jamaican poet during the Harlem Renaissance and was able to express his feelings through his writing. His poems celebrated Jamaican culture while challenging white authority. He wrote about his life as a black man in both Jamaica and America. McKay published his first books of verse‚” Songs of Jamaica and Constab Ballads in 1912 and used the reward
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It is popular consensus that Claude McKay was an influential intellectual leader during the Harlem Renaissance‚ however‚ many people dispute Claude McKay’s writing prose as well as his personal literary itinerary in regards to African American matters‚ which raises the question‚ “Assertive? Or offensive?” Is it possible to declare assertion without being offensive? These are just a few questions which developed while reading the profile of Claude McKay in addition to a few of his publications‚ in
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frequently by both white and black newspapers. Claude McKay was all too familiar with the situations that came about from this ongoing race war. One of his more well-known poems‚ “If We Must Die”‚ was published during the summer of 1919‚ better known as the “Red Summer”. This name was given for this time period to symbolize the blood of the many people that we killed. This poem expressed what many were unable to speak‚ but knew they needed to hear. McKay wanted his brethren to rise up and defend themselves
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The poem is primarily about the racism Africans face in the world. Africans should not be treated as though they are inferior; they deserve respect and honor. No matter what others say‚ Africans are ready to fight for their rights. In this poem‚ ‘If We Must Die’‚ his use of imagery and word choice contributes to the overall theme of justice for minorities.At first glance‚ this poem may seem as though it will preach about seizing the day and achieving what you want in life. However‚ once the poem is
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people die meaninglessly or die in honor? During the 1920s‚ the Harlem Renaissance‚ was created for African American to express themselves as free people. At that period of time‚ without showing any respect from the white‚ African American was still treated unequally. But they will want the whites to acknowledge them‚ so they express themselves by showing what they can do such as‚ music‚ film‚ and literature. Through the use of key phrases and metaphor‚ in the poem ¨If We Must Die” by Claude McKay
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The captivating true words of writers Claude McKay‚ James Weldon‚ and Jean Toomer resemble the atrocious events of the past couple months of the multiple homicidal murders and brutality by law enforcement against African Americans. Nothing is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and stupidity. The year of 1619 was the beginning of slavery in our country by the Europeans and did not end until 1865 ‚ and it wasn’t until almost fifty years later in 1913 that a white man was finally persecuted and
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significant poem by Claude McKay’s "If We Must Die"‚ he was a Jamaican-American author who advocated black self-determination and believed that African-Americans should rely on themselves to become independent and free. He was born on September 15‚ 1889‚ and died on May 22‚ 1948. McKay’s poem presents a significant material in comparing and contrast a good impression of his belief. And also my point of view and my personal experiences on his poem’s "If We Must Die". Throughout the poem‚ he states
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