If We Must Die by Claude McKay

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If We Must Die by Claude McKay
McKay is among the most celebrated poets of the Renaissance period. He composes the sonnet “If We Must Die” as a literary objection against the denial of the white man to provide the black men with fundamental human privileges that the white men are eligible to. McKay composes the sonnet in 1919 when the liberal social reforms were not initiated and a period when officials of the public endorsed the scandalous slogan of the “separate but equal” that justified the apartheid of the public amenities. In lieu of continuing to indolently stand by as the white subjected the black community to segregation, by spreading the “white man’s country” notion across the country, McKay emboldens the black community in the Harlem Renaissance to emblematize their rights that were God-given and champion for their equality. Mostly, the black community was idle as Woodrow and Theodore Roosevelt fought against the corruption that encumbered the metropolitan community. McKay aimed at starting a revolution to forge the initial “social progressive era”.
The author begins the poem by declaring that he rejects to be exterminated by white angry racist individuals for no purpose at all. He says “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” (1-4). In this line, he makes references to the attacks that the whites targeted toward the black community.

It was very common that the whites used dogs in a bid to attack black individuals just because of their skin color. Moreover, he makes reference to dogs to allude to the whites who attacked the blacks, a metaphor that is extended to indicate their viciousness and brutality. The author continues, “If we must die, O let us nobly die, / So that our precious blood may not be shed/ In vain; then even the monsters we deft/ Shall be constrained to honor us though dead” (5-8). In this lines, he amplifies the enemies using a metaphor. He alludes to them as monstrosities, who are inhumane and vicious as they sadistically pleasure in playing with the prey instead of eating devouring them.
McKay encourages the readership to fight back despite the attackers’ (whites) brutality. He inspires the blacks to die with integrity and reserve their forefather’s race and dignity (“If We Must Die Summary” N.p). He says, “O kinsmen we must meet the common foe! / Though far outnumbered let us show us brave, / And for their thousand blows deal one deathblow!” (9-11). At this juncture, the poem’s mood varies. It gets more optimistic and initiates by the instilling of a notion that the blacks actually stand a chance to triumph above the racial insurgences to turn into citizens who are regular.
The author finalizes by saying, “What though before us lies open grave? / Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack, / Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!” (12-14). Despite the odds being against the black community, the white supremacists were weaker than anticipated. McKay continues to employ the metaphoric ‘dog’ to allude to the whites’ cowardice. This instills the notion in the readership that they are could not fight fairly because they are too dishonorable. He concludes his sonnet by demonstrating to the readership how the blacks and whites in the racial demonstrations differed in the period of the Harlem Renaissance. The whites would not fight fairly both in the equality and physical wars while the blacks did.
Conclusively, even though McKay is cognizant of the tiredness and despair of the frail ‘black army,’ he emboldens them to be adamant on their pride. The white supremacists knew that making them feel worthless was the only means to defeat them. They lynch and torture them, but then again, the speech from McKay to the broken souls of the people is inspirational and heartening that the fight is still on; that they deserve equality, they can achieve it and will achieve it.
Works Cited
“If We Must Die Summary.” Shmoop.com. N. p., 2018. Web. 25 Nov. 2018. https://www.shmoop.com/if-we-must-die/summary.htmlMcKay, Claude. “If we must die.” The Liberator 2.6 (1919): 1.