Analysis Of The Negro's Tragedy By Claude Mckay

Claude Mckay uses various literary devices in his poem “The Negro’s Tragedy” to show the evils of racism in the world. He shows the similarities of the racism he experiences in his life, to the horrors of slavery in the past. The theme of religion is also seen throughout his poem, and exemplifies the evils of racism. McKay also explores the irony of politics in the early twentieth century, and their seeming lack of effort towards serious issues within their country. Throughout the poem, McKay challenges the status quo of hate and racism through powerful imagery and allusions. Mckay alludes to the period of racism in America, which ended after the civil war, to show that although racism has officially ends, racism does not. He starts the poem by saying, “It is the Negro’s tragedy I feel” (1). This shows that the speaker experiences racism in his own life, and understands the struggle of attempting to overcome racism in one’s life. Mckay shows this …show more content…
He describes African Americans as being covered by, “the thickness of the shroud of night” (7). A shroud covers the person underneath, and the suffering of African Americans is covered up and ignored. Darkness has a negative connotation of death and suffering, which is very similar to the suffering of African Americans. The thickness of the shroud is also very important, because it would allow no light in. This lack of light is similar to the lack of hope for African Americans in the speaker’s America. Also, the thickness of the shroud holds the wearer down, not allowing them to rise up like the hypocrisy of the American Dream states. The poem continues saying the shroud, “hides and buries him from other men” (8). The word buries often refers to the burying of dead person’s body. This shows that not only is the racism hurtful, it is also deadly. The powerful imagery of Mckay further showcases the evils and hypocrisy of