Claude McKay: The Voice of the Harlem Renaissance
Claude McKay (1889-1948) stands as a towering figure in the literary landscape of the Harlem Renaissance. Alongside Langston Hughes, he played a pivotal role in elevating the visibility of a vibrant community of African American writers, artists, and musicians flourishing in New York during the 1920s. Unlike earlier works that often sought to elicit sympathy from white audiences or gloss over the stark realities faced by black Americans, McKay’s poetry confronts the challenges head-on, often employing established forms, such as the sonnet, to articulate his experience and perspective.
Below, we explore ten of McKay’s most significant and renowned poems, highlighting their themes and contributions to American literature.
- 1. ‘Harlem Shadows’
Ah, stern harsh world, that in the wretched way
Of poverty, dishonor and disgrace,
Has pushed the timid little feet of clay,
The sacred brown feet of my fallen race!
Ah, heart of me, the weary, weary feet
In Harlem wandering from street to street.
The title poem of McKay’s groundbreaking 1922 collection, ‘Harlem Shadows’ was penned in 1918 and marks one of his earliest forays into depicting the lives of Harlem’s inhabitants. Right from the outset, McKay refuses to shy away from the somber realities of the neighborhood. The ‘shapes of girls’ stepping out of these shadows are young women engaging in prostitution, driven by the desperate circumstances of hunger and poverty. - 2. ‘To the White Fiends’
Be not deceived, for every deed you do
I could match – out-match: am I not Afric’s son,
Black of that black land where black deeds are done?
In this striking sonnet from 1919, McKay powerfully counters the racism and discrimination faced by him and his fellow African Americans. He deftly subverts the lazy stereotypes held by white society, asserting that if they perceive him as a ‘fiend,’ he can outdo them in that regard. However, as the sonnet progresses, McKay shifts away from this combative stance, proclaiming instead that he was made by God to be a beacon of light in the surrounding darkness. - 3. ‘Enslaved’
Oh when I think of my long-suffering race,
For weary centuries despised, oppressed,
Enslaved and lynched, denied a human place
In the great life line of the Christian West…
This poignant poem from 1921 encapsulates the deep-seated anger and sorrow McKay felt regarding the position of African Americans in U.S. society. It addresses themes of oppression, enslavement, and the denial of a rightful place within a society that professes Christian values, while simultaneously being ‘disinherited’ from their African heritage. - 4. ‘My Mother’
Her hand she slowly lifted from her lap
And, smiling sadly in the old sweet way,
She pointed to the nail where hung my cap.
Her eyes said: I shall last another day.
In this emotional 1921 poem, McKay crafts two sonnets that pay homage to his mother, Ann McKay, who, like Claude’s father, belonged to Jamaica’s peasant class. The first sonnet recounts his reluctance to leave his mother’s side as she lay dying. Despite her insistence that he go work in the fields, her loving gaze conveyed a hope that she would ‘last another day.’ Tragically, she passed away while he was away. - 5. ‘If We Must Die’
If we must die, let it not be like hogs
Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot,
While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs,
Making their mock at our accursed lot…
McKay penned ‘If We Must Die’ in response to the mob violence against African American communities during the tumultuous period known as the Red Summer of 1919. This poem serves as a powerful critique of racial tensions, portraying white Americans as predatory figures wielding power over black lives. McKay’s call for dignity in the face of violence is both defiant and stirring. - 6. ‘Outcast’
For the dim regions whence my fathers came
My spirit, bondaged by the body, longs.
Words felt, but never heard, my lips would frame;
My soul would sing forgotten jungle songs.
In this 1922 poem, McKay expresses a profound sense of loss and longing for his African heritage. He reflects on the ‘bondage’ imposed not only by physical constraints but also by the emotional disconnect from his roots. The poem captures the struggle of identity faced by black Americans, caught between a land they cannot fully embrace and one that feels alien. - 7. ‘The White House’
Your door is shut against my tightened face,
And I am sharp as steel with discontent;
But I possess the courage and the grace
To bear my anger proudly and unbent.
Although McKay later clarified in his 1937 work A Long Way from Home that the title of this 1922 poem was not directly referring to the official residence of the U.S. President, it is hard for readers to overlook the dual implications of the phrase ‘white house.’ In this poem, the animosity is directed at the white Americans who inhabit that ‘white house,’ symbolizing a world that remains closed to McKay and his fellow African Americans. - 8. ‘Africa’
Thou ancient treasure-land, thou modern prize,
New peoples marvel at thy pyramids!
The years roll on, thy sphinx of riddle eyes
Watches the mad world with immobile lids.
This 1921 sonnet succinctly encapsulates Africa’s rich history, portraying it as the cradle of civilization and a wellspring of knowledge. However, McKay laments that despite its profound contributions to humanity, darkness has engulfed the continent, much like a ‘harlot’ whose past glory has faded away. - 9. ‘Tiger’
The white man is a tiger at my throat,
Drinking my blood as my life ebbs away,
And muttering that his terrible striped coat
Is Freedom’s and portends the Light of Day.
In this vivid poem, McKay likens the ‘white man’ to a ferocious tiger poised to consume him. The imagery reflects the predatory nature of racial oppression, yet McKay’s characteristic defiance shines through as he asserts his unwillingness to submit or yield to such forces. - 10. ‘America’
Although she feeds me bread of bitterness,
And sinks into my throat her tiger’s tooth,
Stealing my breath of life, I will confess
I love this cultured hell that tests my youth.
In this celebrated 1921 poem, McKay employs the symbol of the tiger, gendered as female, which introduces a complex layer of sexual imagery. The visceral imagery of the female tiger’s ‘bite’ suggests a piercing violation, yet McKay’s declaration of love for America, even amid its harsh realities, encapsulates the conflicting emotions that define his experience.