African-American and Caribbean literature
Biography
Claude McKay was a Jamaican-born poet and novelist who became a leading voice of the Harlem Renaissance, known for his militant lyric and diasporic perspective.
Primary Genres
- —Poetry
- —Novel
Major Works
'If We Must Die' (1919), Songs of Jamaica (1912), Home to Harlem (1928)
Writing Style & Major Themes
Writing style: formal sonnets and vernacular verse used to confront racism and colonialism. Major themes: resistance, exile, race, and the dignity of the oppressed.
Literary Impact
His sonnet 'If We Must Die' became a touchstone of Black resistance and helped define the political lyric of the Harlem Renaissance.
Suggested Starting Work
'If We Must Die'
Public-Domain Status
McKay's early works may be public domain in the US; later works may be copyrighted. Check by work.
Sources and further reading