Make Me Human Or Give Me Death Analysis

Under the guise of melting pots and diverse communities exist the many complications of racism and troubled pasts. Whether indigenous peoples try to immerse into mainstream cultures or remain independent of assimilation, it is often the case where their history is littered with examples of racism and various forms of impositions regarding colonial powers. The poems “The Loika” and “Make Me Human or Give Me Death” are examples of indigenous literature which speaks to the emotions of these often underrepresented communities. Authors Graciela Huinao and May Yang use personification and symbolism respectively to comment on the destruction caused by Americanization and educate communities on the current state of indigenous communities which have …show more content…
These expansions come at the expense of native inhabitants. Through immersion, expansion, and death the livelihood of their culture was attacked. The once isolated and sustainable community now suffered at the hands of vindictive and greedy foreigners. Similar to this cry for help and attention from the Loika, there is an undertaking by the offspring of the indigenous communities which seeks justice and retribution.

May Yang’s “Make Me Human or Give Me Death” is appropriately named as she talks of a blanket of silence that developed countries impose on minorities. Supported by ignorance and reluctance, Yang expresses that this blanket creates a divide between communities. As they are underrepresented and have no voice in their communities, the activism regarding minorities is often overlooked or yields slow progress. As part of her message, Yang writes of the actions she and individuals like her would take as a form of redemption.
“and this flame which burned my grandfather’s house down / and this light which shackled my grandmother’s body down / and this heat which scorched my father’s spirit down / will look onto you and take you like it took me