Enslaved Poem by Claude McKay
Enslaved
Oh when I think of my long-suffering race,
For weary centuries despised, oppressed,
Enslaved and lynched, denied a human place
In the great life line of the Christian West;
And in the Black Land disinherited,
Robbed in the ancient country of its birth,
My heart grows sick with hate, becomes as lead,
For this my race that has no home on earth.
Then from the dark depths of my soul I cry
To the avenging angel to consume
The white man's world of wonders utterly:
Let it be swallowed up in earth's vast womb,
Or upward roll as sacrificial smoke
To liberate my people from its yoke!
such a shame to carry such hatred, to blame everyone for the acts of some, such a pity.
do you expect him to accept them with open arms. '' acts of some'' it was the majority of the white race. Wasn't it a shame how African Americans were ridiculed and oppressed everyday because of their skin. ''all'' of them were considered minorities. He has a right to hate them.
I read the biography on McKay's page and it was exceedingly interesting. I admire his writing skills but I cannot admire hatred as a response to hatred, violence as a response to violence, inhumanity as a response to inhumanity.. Humanity cannot be improved by generations copying the evils of the preceding generations. Now I will be disliked for speaking my heart as he spoke his.
Whoa! This is a very strong statement, wishing the white man's world to be consumed utterly. I guess a history of injustice can do that to a person.
Frustration is very clear / crystal clear in this poem. We talk about liberation, equality and what not but where it is found.
Let it be swallowed up in earth's vast womb, Or upward roll as sacrificial smoke To liberate my people from its yoke! very fine poem
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4/19/2024 3:47:56 AM # 1.0.0.1119
We often hang our heads when things make us sad to painful to speak of. The voice in this poem speaks of a time when slavery happen to America. Happen to the African me. LHPS of Pittsburgh