Slappin da Bass Maan

Claude McKay was a Jamaican who immigrated to the United States in 1912. In his sonnet “America,” McKay uses constant imagery to share his feelings about his new country. The imagery is used to emphasize how despite McKay loves his country, he stands against the majority when it comes to certain issues. Though never mentioned, we can infer that the issue is race and its role in the US in the 1920's and 30's. However despite the maltreatment of African-Americans, McKay shows that he also understands the opportunities everyone has in America to influence the future.

The poem begins with a contradiction. "Although she feeds me bread of bitterness, And sinks into my throat her tiger's tooth, Stealing my breath of life, I will confess..." ok, he probably hates this place right? ”I love this cultured hell that tests my youth" (lines 1-4). So right off the bat there is a serious discrepancy in the feelings of the speaker, for why would you love anything that holds you back? Is there something addicting in this "cultured hell" that attracts him? Perhaps some sort of drug or lifestyle that has ups and downs. The speaker goes on to say that he stands "erect against her (America's) hate," (line 6) but only has the strength to do so because of the vigor and energy that being in America gives him. Therein is another contradiction, for we know he is fighting against the masses over the role of race, yet from those masses he gets the strength to fight. Maybe it’s a provocation thing.

In 1919 McKay joined a group of black radicals who created the African Blood Brotherhood. They were known to disagree with the nationalistic ideas of Marcus Garvey, preferring to remain in America and forge a place for themselves. That attitude can be seen in "America," as the speaker sees himself as a "rebel" (line 8). Obviously the speaker suffered some sort of persecution for his beliefs and was being punished for them, for he says, "As a rebel fronts a king in state, I stand within her walls" (lines 8-9). Through the persecution he endures, the speaker gains perspective.

The poem concludes, "Darkly I gaze into the days ahead, And see her might and granite wonders there, Beneath the touch of Time's unerring hand, Like priceless Treasures sinking in the sand" (lines 11-14). Here the speaker is referring to all the amazing accomplishments of America. Yet he believes that despite those great accomplishments, America is still doomed and will be viewed by history as a nation with great potential that failed due to intolerance (priceless treasures sinking in the sand).

Throughout "America" the use of imagery helps give the sense that the speaker is an introspective man, unafraid of speaking out with opinions different from the norm. He puts the idea/feeling of vigor into liquid form in line 5, saying "her (America's) vigor flows like tides into my blood" (line 5). Later he shares the result of standing up against the majority, "Her (America's) bigness sweeps my being like a flood" (line 7). Another example is when instead of simply saying how things change through history, McKay writes "beneath the touch of Time's unerring hand, Like priceless treasures sinking in the sand," (lines 13-14). Come on, that's legit.

I found the fact that this was written as a sonnet interesting because it seems like such a modern topic whereas sonnets seem so old fashioned and Shakespearean. Yet I feel that it made the topic more serious, and allowed for the speaker not to come off as a radical anti-government Joe the plumber person. (just kidding). Nonetheless, I feel that the message of the poem is very important. Americans tend to have sizable egos and remembering that all other great empires through history have fallen is important, even if we have accomplished so much.


This has been the Prince, layin down some knowledge.
Prince out.
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