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Analysis Of If We Must Die By Claude Mckay

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“If We Must Die” The poem, If We Must Die by Claude McKay, still resonates today nearly 100 years later. Claude McKay’s writings encompassed race relations, fury over injustice and a call to action during the Harlem Renaissance. This poem was a response to the Red Summer of 1919 when black communities in the country were subjected to intense violence and hate crimes. This period -“The Great Migration” was supposed to be a time for new opportunities as blacks relocated from the Jim Crow South to the North. Currently, America is experiencing its first African-American president, which is a major achievement for people of color. However, during a time where blacks should reap prosperity; overt racism and political commentary rooted in hatred …show more content…

History has a way of repeating itself, still in America people of color are subjected to similar action. Law enforcement with “apparent authority” has killed un-armed people of color across the nation; killing them in inglorious ways such as illegal chokeholds, bullets aimed at their backs, and killing a man point blank in front of his child and spouse. The speaker says “If we must die let us nobly die” warranting blacks to stand against their oppressor, look them in the eye and stand firm. Today, people across the nation have stood with African-Americans against injustices; protesting in the streets... disrupting traffic, and expressing outrage. These actions have created national conversations against institutionalized racism. Organizations such as Blacks Lives Matter, brings issues to the forefront creating dialogues why black lives are equally as …show more content…

Supporters of the National Anthem call him unpatriotic and seek to slander his name; in spite of this fellow athletes have joined his protest. His brave stance proves to millions of people he is not afraid no matter the consequences. Lastly, lines 13 and 14 reads “Like men we’ll face the murderous cowardly pack, Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!” The speaker has riled up his allies, odds against them however they’re ready to fight. The injustices people of color still face today has sparked a national outcry, we are fighting back and demanding change. Clifford Joseph Harris Jr.-an American rapper released a social album titled “US or ELSE”, his song “We Will Not” contains the following

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