Claude McKay

For my Individual Poetry Project, I chose Claude McKay to research his life and career and analyze his poetry.  He was influential in the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s.  Many of his poems were written to encourage other African Americans to embrace their heritage, band together to stand strong in the face of oppression, and understand the importance of love and family.  The following four posts will include a small biography, a short poem analysis of his poem "If We Must Die," a long poem analysis of "Memorial," and the complete poetry project that connects McKay's life to his collection of poetry Harlem Shadows, which includes the two previous poems.