McKay and Cullen - the Gems of the Harlem Renaissance - Term Paper Example

The Harlem Renaissance is widely known for the literature of African-Americans. All these writers were made subject to racial discrimination and they took it upon themselves to remove this evil from society once and for all. This paper focuses on two poets of the Harlem Renaissance; it focuses on each poem of the writer and what they truly stood for. The first poet to be analyzed for his work is Claude McKay. He was one of the most important influences of the Harlem Renaissance and an extremely well-known figure amongst all other literaries.

His work was exceptionally bold and he openly talked about the “white” American society and the kind of oppression the blacks had to deal with. He has written about the dual life of people who have to deal with racism every day. His work contributed greatly to the Harlem Renaissance and even provoked other writers to do so.    McKay’s one of the most famous poems was “If We Must Die.” The poem got published a little after the World War ended. According to McKay “It was the only poem I ever read to the members of my crew.

” This poem can be easily interpreted with McKay’s tone, he is addressing all the people of the black community and calling them to unite. Also, the poem expresses the insult and discrimination that this minority has to face. “While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, making their mock at our accursed lot.” These verses depict that McKay called himself and his African brothers “cursed.” This explains the extremeness and brutality of their hardships that their colors, something which they have no control of, became a curse.

The poem almost comes around or sounds like a plea, like a person is literally crying for mercy, “If we must die, O let us nobly die.”