Poem Analysis: The White House By Claude Mckay

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Claude McKay’s scornful sonnet, “The White House” describes a black man’s feelings towards the federal government. The message of this sonnet is that although segregation, discrimination and racism stems from the government; African Americans must fight on. McKay accomplishes his purpose by writing the poem in first person, repetition of imagery and metaphors and adapting a Shakespearean rhyme scheme.
McKay is the author and the poem is written in first person but the author may not be the subject of the poem. The author could be describing someone else’s perspective when he writes “I must” or “I possess”. Writing in first poem allows the reader a more personal experience and helps them to sympathized and perhaps identify with the subject. By giving the reader access into the mind and …show more content…

In the poem, the White House signifies the discrimination and hate towards the black race by calling it a “shuttered door of glass”. This implies that the government’s motives are see through and fragile. Meaning that that people understand the government is trying to oppress African Americans but that if they stand up and fight the entire system could collapse and end in a victory for equality. The foundation of discrimination is unstable and “the pavement slabs burn loose” as the fight for racial equality grows stronger. The poem is a call to action, it’s calling to breaks loose the foundations of hate within the United States and to break the standard of oppression with “courage and grace”. Attempting to rid society of racism is no small task and the poem advises one “to search for wisdom every hour” and to “find in it the superhuman power to hold to the letter of your law”. The key word is “superhuman” implying that the task is near impossible but through wisdom the goal of fighting for African Americans rights can be continued and perhaps the fight can be

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