Harlem Renaissance Poets

The birth of Harlem Renaissance was a culmination of various historical, social and economic factors affecting African Americans in the United States. Some of the challenges that the African Americans were facing at the time included racial discrimination from the white majority, migration from the southern states to urban areas in the north to look for jobs, high levels of unemployment and economic deprivation (Alquwaizani, 2011). During this time, a tremendous level of creativity and innovation by African American poets and writers emerged. Some of the most popular poets of the Harlem Renaissance included Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, James Weldon Johnson and Countee Cullen just to mention a few. This paper is a critical examination of Claude McKay and Counteen Cullen poetry and the role that these poets played in Harlem Renaissance.

Claude McKay (1889-1948) was a Jamaican native and immigrated to the United States in 1912 (Jackson, 2013). He is one of the most influential authors and poets of the Harlem Renaissance era. Some of Claude McKay’s works include Harlem Shadows, which is a collection of poems published in 1922. In addition, he authored several novels, including Home to Harlem published in 1928, Banjo and Banana Bottom, which were published in 1929 and 1933 respectively. Moreover, Claude McKay wrote a book about Harlem titled Harlem; Negro Metropolis published in 1940 and A long way from Home, an autobiography that was published in 1937 (Jackson, 2013). McKay is regarded as one of the foremost spokesperson of African Americans in the early 20^th century, through his courageous exposition of the challenges faced by the minority group in the United States during this period. In most of his poems, Claude McKay boldly rebels against racial injustice and oppression. In a poem titled If we Must Die, McKay challenges the African Americans to fight back against oppression (“Claude McKay’s poems”, 2012. p34). Through his work, he inspired a sense of self-pride and dignity especially to the African Americans. He inspired other African Americans to not only stand and defend their heritage, but also express their fears and aspirations. Thus, many creative African American artists, poets, musicians and authors emerged who defined the art of the Harlem Renaissance.

Counteen Cullen (1903-1946) is one of the most prolific poet and author of Harlem Renaissance era in addition to being a top African American scholar of his time. Some of his written works include Color, a collection of poems published in 1922, and a novel titled One Way to Heaven and several children’s books and translations (Jackson, 2013). The poet used his writing talent not only to pass political messages, especially on racial segregation but also to build a positive image of African Americans in the country. Counteen Cullen helped to build the self-confidence of the Africans Americans through his art; an attribute he hoped would empower the African Americans, so that they could resist oppression and other forms of discrimination. Through his work, Cullen was able to open a platform through which African Americans could explore and expose their artistic talents, especially at a time when they had started becoming more academically and economically empowered than before in the American society.

Both Cullen and McKay demonstrate the element of double consciousness in their different poems. The poem, titled “Heritage” by Counteen Cullen is replete with elements of double consciousness as the author struggles to understand what Africa (his heritage) means to him (“Countee Cullen poems”, 2012). In the poem, Cullen uses contrast and rhetorical questions to show the two sides of an African American- the desire to connect with African heritage and his westernized culture. This is evident from lines1-6; “What is Africa to me?/ copper sun or scarlet sea/ jungle star of jungle track, strong bronzed men or legal black woman from whose loins I sprang, when the birds of Eden sang?(Countee Cullen poems,” 2012, p.12). In Claude McKay poem titled America, the poet’s character alternates between love and hate for America. He hates America because it feeds him with “bread of bitterness and steals his life, but he confesses his love for America because it gives him the “strength to stand against her” (Claude McKay’s poems, 2012, p.14).

In the poem titled “Heritage’ the most evident themes are identity and alienation. In this poem, the poet (Cullen) is unsure of his true African identity. He is not sure what Africa is, what defines it and his relationship with the continent. This is demonstrated in line 1-3 where he wonders, “What is Africa to me/ copper sun or scarlet sea/ jungle star of jungle track/” (Countee Cullen poems, 2012, p.12). The theme of alienation is evident in the “Heritage” poem. The poet agonizes over his separation from Africa a land that his fathers loved in lines 7-9. “One three centuries removed, from the scenes his father once loved, spicy grove, cinnamon tree” (Countee Cullen poems, 2012, p.12). The poet expresses sense of alienation from Africa. In Claude Mackay poem, titled America, the major themes are courage, determination and defiance. In lines 8-9 of the poem, the poet is courageous to face the overwhelming challenges in America “Yet as rebel fronts a king in state, I stand within her walls with not a shred of terror, not a word of jeer” (8-9). The theme of determination is also evident in the entire poem. The poet is also committed to stand up for what he believes in without relenting, no matter how long it takes and the obstacles he faces. Finally, the theme of defiance is prominent in the entire poem. In spite of the bitterness and all the sufferings that the poet encounters, he says he loves America in lines 1-4. “Although she feeds me bread of bitterness,/ and sinks into my throat her tigers tooth/stealing my breath of life/ I will confess I love this cultured hell that tests my youth.” In line 6, the poet contends that he develops strength from the hatred that America treats him with ( Claude McKay’s poems, 2012, p.14).

Here is a poem that expresses the themes identified in Heritage and America poems

There is a land, where I belong,

But where is the land?

My mind wanders to a land that oozes blackness,

But I find, my feet steadfast on white sand

That threatens to swallow me whole, with agonizing fury,

But firm I stand, like granite pedestal,

To face the anger with absolute resolve.

As my mind craves to hold that black land,

That once belonged to my ancestors,

But do I belong there?

References

Alquwaizani, M. (2011). Internationalizing the domestic: The Harlem Renaissance and the third world anti-colonial movements. Journal of King Saud University, Languages and Translation, 23, 59-64.

Classic Poetry Series: Countee Cullen poems.(2012). Retrieved from http://www.poemhunter.com/countee-cullen/

Classic poetry series: Claude McKay’s poems.(2012). Retrieved from http://www.poemhunter.com/claude-mckay/

Jackson, C.(2013). Harlem Renaissance: Pivotal period in the development of afro-American culture. Yale University. Retrieved from http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1978/2/78.02.03.x.html>.