Examining the Ambivalent View of America in Claude McKay's 'America' shown towards African-Americans. Mckay wrote this poem to express his feelings, as a Jamaican immigrant, about America. Many African Americans came to America in hopes of achieving the American dream, but instead they were welcomed with closed arms because of the color of their skin. There is this facade that has been created and accepted around the world that America is the land of freedom and, more importantly, opportunity. But McKay highlights the flawed and corrupt system that crushes the dreams and aspirations of countless African Americans. Yet a duality exists, McKay believes that despite the racism and hardships African Americans face in America, the American dream is something worth fighting for. Mckay uses figurative language such as; personification, metaphors, and imagery to highlight America's ambivalent relationship within the black community during the 20th century. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The poem begins with the word “Though” preparing readers for the ambivalence that will come later in the poem. McKay continues to personify America as a "she", by portraying America as a woman, it creates a parallel to the idea of being a real mother. A mother's role is to protect her babies, dress them and feed them. Yet in McKay's poem the motherland feeds its young only with "bitter bread" and "sinks" the "tiger's tooth" into the speaker's neck by "stealing" the "breath of life" (lines 1-3). McKay creates this metaphor of America as a predatory animal to highlight the violence the nation has inflicted on African Americans. The metaphor is also used to question white Americans' self-concept of being the only people who have the right to inhabit America, comparing America to a foreign animal. This image suggests that white Americans are the true outsiders because of the way they treat African Americans as it is not in line with the morals of a true American. It also goes against the basic American principle of welcoming those from overseas with open arms. Despite the discrimination, the speaker declares his "love" (line 4) in the first four lines of the poem although directly before saying "I will confess" suggests some uncertainty. This sentence highlights the internal conflict the speaker is facing because although the speaker is aware that he is unwanted in America as the speaker describes it as "hell" (line 4), he quickly undermines this statement by saying that this abuse it's just America “tests” (line 4) him/her. This stoic remark symbolizes the idea in the speaker's mind that this abuse is a rite of passage for the speaker to earn his rightful place in America. The end of this observation is accompanied by an exclamation point which shows the passion the speaker has for the American dream creating even more paradox between his thoughts. America clearly exploits the speaker, he/she uses him/her to fight racism and as motivation. As the poem continues, McKay continues to expand the relationship between America and the speaker. In the first lines of the first quatrain, the speaker says that America sucks his blood, thus sucking his life. But in lines 5-7 the speaker now says that America's strength flows through his "blood" and brings him back to life. The speaker then goes on to say that although the strength given to him by America is in his blood, it is used to stand "standing against the..

Topic > Examining the Ambivalent View of America in Claude McKay's 'America' shown towards African-Americans. Mckay wrote this poem to express his feelings, as a Jamaican immigrant, about America. Many African Americans came to America in hopes of achieving the American dream, but instead they were welcomed with closed arms because of the color of their skin. There is this facade that has been created and accepted around the world that America is the land of freedom and, more importantly, opportunity. But McKay highlights the flawed and corrupt system that crushes the dreams and aspirations of countless African Americans. Yet a duality exists, McKay believes that despite the racism and hardships African Americans face in America, the American dream is something worth fighting for. Mckay uses figurative language such as; personification, metaphors, and imagery to highlight America's ambivalent relationship within the black community during the 20th century. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The poem begins with the word “Though” preparing readers for the ambivalence that will come later in the poem. McKay continues to personify America as a "she", by portraying America as a woman, it creates a parallel to the idea of being a real mother. A mother's role is to protect her babies, dress them and feed them. Yet in McKay's poem the motherland feeds its young only with "bitter bread" and "sinks" the "tiger's tooth" into the speaker's neck by "stealing" the "breath of life" (lines 1-3). McKay creates this metaphor of America as a predatory animal to highlight the violence the nation has inflicted on African Americans. The metaphor is also used to question white Americans' self-concept of being the only people who have the right to inhabit America, comparing America to a foreign animal. This image suggests that white Americans are the true outsiders because of the way they treat African Americans as it is not in line with the morals of a true American. It also goes against the basic American principle of welcoming those from overseas with open arms. Despite the discrimination, the speaker declares his "love" (line 4) in the first four lines of the poem although directly before saying "I will confess" suggests some uncertainty. This sentence highlights the internal conflict the speaker is facing because although the speaker is aware that he is unwanted in America as the speaker describes it as "hell" (line 4), he quickly undermines this statement by saying that this abuse it's just America “tests” (line 4) him/her. This stoic remark symbolizes the idea in the speaker's mind that this abuse is a rite of passage for the speaker to earn his rightful place in America. The end of this observation is accompanied by an exclamation point which shows the passion the speaker has for the American dream creating even more paradox between his thoughts. America clearly exploits the speaker, he/she uses him/her to fight racism and as motivation. As the poem continues, McKay continues to expand the relationship between America and the speaker. In the first lines of the first quatrain, the speaker says that America sucks his blood, thus sucking his life. But in lines 5-7 the speaker now says that America's strength flows through his "blood" and brings him back to life. The speaker then goes on to say that although the strength given to him by America is in his blood, it is used to stand "standing against the..