Melanin is Meaningless Before the civil rights movement people of color were treated completely the opposite of how caucasian people were acted towards. In the poem titled, America, by Claude McKay written in 1919 provides an insight into how an Jamaican-American is not equally treated in America through personal experiences. During the time this poem was written the Harlem Renaissance was taking place and through this event many people of color united together to express themselves through different forms of art. From my numerous readings of the poem I have decided that the major implied claim within the writing is even though America treats the author horribly he stills loves the country for giving him various opportunities. The poem begins
…show more content…
For example, in the first line of quote above the author says “I love this cultured hell that test my youth”. The word love has a majorly positive connotation but the way it is used in the line completely takes off the connotation and replaces it with a neutral meaning since it is followed by describing America as “hell”. One can identify the small amount of sarcasm that is put into the line because the average person would not love a cultured hell. Also, it can be implied that the author is treated unfairly because he says it test his youth since it could mean that he must always be alert and aware of his surroundings. The line is followed by, “Her vigor flows like tides into my blood”. This is another example of how the author is treated bad by America since he reciprocating the hate he receives back to America. Which is followed by, “Giving me strength erect against her hate”. This line also provides insight on how bad the author is treated because it caused him to develop the strength just to deal with America. He goes on to say, “Yet, as rebel fronts a king in state, / I stand within her walls with not a shred / Of terror, malice, not a word of jeer”. Within these lines the author is expresses how he is able to withstand the hate that he
For example, in the first line of quote above the author says “I love this cultured hell that test my youth”. The word love has a majorly positive connotation but the way it is used in the line completely takes off the connotation and replaces it with a neutral meaning since it is followed by describing America as “hell”. One can identify the small amount of sarcasm that is put into the line because the average person would not love a cultured hell. Also, it can be implied that the author is treated unfairly because he says it test his youth since it could mean that he must always be alert and aware of his surroundings. The line is followed by, “Her vigor flows like tides into my blood”. This is another example of how the author is treated bad by America since he reciprocating the hate he receives back to America. Which is followed by, “Giving me strength erect against her hate”. This line also provides insight on how bad the author is treated because it caused him to develop the strength just to deal with America. He goes on to say, “Yet, as rebel fronts a king in state, / I stand within her walls with not a shred / Of terror, malice, not a word of jeer”. Within these lines the author is expresses how he is able to withstand the hate that he