If We Must Die
Claude McKay's poem, If We Must Die, is a poem about racial inequality and persecution with a very angry tone. The words of this poem exude with the poet's rage against the injustices done to his race. His hatred of the inequality is evident in his harsh descriptions of his persecutors. However, the reader can also feel the emotions of triumph because "If We Must Die" is also a poem of strength, rally and hope for the African American race.
In the opening line, McKay urges his people not to die like hogs. He chooses hogs because hogs are slaughtered just as he feels his people are being unjustly slaughtered. He has very malicious descriptions for his persecutors and creates a picture of a rabid dog gone crazy looking for blood. He uses the simile mad and hungry dogs for his persecutors.
The poet begs his people to die nobly, with dignity, with their head high and not to give in to the "monsters". Again, McKay creates a nightmarish picture exposing the wickedness of the......
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Approximate Pages: 2 (250 words per double-spaced page)
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