After reading the second batch of McKay poems and learning a little more about him as person, I can understand why he was considered one of the more prominent or moving writers of the era.
The fact that McKay took a strong interest and standing in the socialist party really explains some of his poems; such as “Exhortation: Summer of 1919”, “The Dominant White”, and “Invocation”. However, learning that he came to America of his own free will and then reading poems of pure demise for America makes me wonder why he never returned to his homeland that his writings professed that he longed so much for.
This made me wonder if I interpreted his poems correctly. McKay is known for writing on racial issues of the working class and his use of frank directness really moved and awakened people. So I started to think maybe McKay personally didn’t long for Africa as we interpreted from many of his poems, maybe he was using these references to culture, heritage, jungle songs, homeland, self-heritage, and native clime; to awaken people and make them conscious of who they are and where their roots lie. I don’t necessarily just mean roots to Africa but roots to a place in society.
He was a socialist and wanted to make the working class pay attention to increase social and economic equality, so what better way to do that then to bring people back to the reality of their roots and empower them with courage and force to uplift their culture and hold themselves at a higher level.
We discussed that many of his poems really have that masculine force behind them, but what better way to evoke change then to pump people up and stir feeling of pride, dignity, and spiritual awakening.
So I think all the longings for “home” were really just a cover to get people to think about who they are and what they want from this life.
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2 comments:
Angie, your interpretation is so different than anything we talked about it class, but it makes complete sense. Poetry is so hard and intense to decode and hope that you understand what the author wanted to convey to readers. McKay’s poems defiantly describe a sense of pride and culture and that was what the Harlem Renaissance was all about. African Americans were proving a sense of self worth to others and being proud about their race and culture. “Heritage” describes this time as enlightenment, a joyful, embracing time as he begins to feel a part of something important (36-37).
Your interpretation really got me thinking. I never thought that possibily because of his socialist beliefs he was trying to use Africa or Jamaca as a source of empowerment for action and not just distance memories or a way to unite a group.
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