Selected Poems

Selected Poems
Author: Claude McKay
Publisher: Courier Corporation
Total Pages: 67
Release: 1999-06-30
Genre: Poetry
ISBN: 0486408760

A collection of poems by Claude McKay, one of the first poets of the Harlem Renaissance.

Harlem Shadows

Harlem Shadows
Author: Claude McKay
Publisher:
Total Pages: 134
Release: 1922
Genre: African Americans
ISBN:

Songs of Jamaica

Songs of Jamaica
Author: Claude McKay
Publisher: Graphic Arts Books
Total Pages: 93
Release: 2021-05-28
Genre: Poetry
ISBN: 1513224050

Songs of Jamaica (1912) is a poetry collection by Claude McKay. Published before the poet left Jamaica for the United States, Songs of Jamaica is a pioneering collection of verse written in Jamaican Patois, the first of its kind. As a committed leftist, McKay was a keen observer of the Black experience in the Caribbean, the American South, and later in New York, where he gained a reputation during the Harlem Renaissance for celebrating the resilience and cultural achievement of the African American community while lamenting the poverty and violence they faced every day. “Quashie to Buccra,” the opening poem, frames this schism in terms of labor, as one class labors to fulfill the desires of another: “You tas’e petater an’ you say it sweet, / But you no know how hard we wuk fe it; / You want a basketful fe quattiewut, / ‘Cause you no know how ‘tiff de bush fe cut.” Addressing himself to a white audience, he exposes the schism inherent to colonial society between white and black, rich and poor. Advising his white reader to question their privileged consumption, dependent as it is on the subjugation of Jamaica’s black community, McKay warns that “hardship always melt away / Wheneber it comes roun’ to reapin’ day.” This revolutionary sentiment carries throughout Songs of Jamaica, finding an echo in the brilliant poem “Whe’ fe do?” Addressed to his own people, McKay offers hope for a brighter future to come: “We needn’ fold we han’ an’ cry, / Nor vex we heart wid groan and sigh; / De best we can do is fe try / To fight de despair drawin’ night: / Den we might conquer by an’ by— / Dat we might do.” With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Claude McKay’s Songs of Jamaica is a classic of Jamaican literature reimagined for modern readers.

Home to Harlem

Home to Harlem
Author: Claude McKay
Publisher: UPNE
Total Pages: 240
Release: 2012-09-11
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1555537790

A novel that gives voice to the alienation and frustration of urban blacks during an era when Harlem was in vogue

Complete Poems

Complete Poems
Author: Claude McKay
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Total Pages: 458
Release: 2004-01-29
Genre: Poetry
ISBN: 0252094972

Containing more than three hundred poems, including nearly a hundred previously unpublished works, this unique collection showcases the intellectual range of Claude McKay (1889-1948), the Jamaican-born poet and novelist whose life and work were marked by restless travel and steadfast social protest. McKay's first poems were composed in rural Jamaican creole and launched his lifelong commitment to representing everyday black culture from the bottom up. Migrating to New York, he reinvigorated the English sonnet and helped spark the Harlem Renaissance with poems such as "If We Must Die." After coming under scrutiny for his communism, he traveled throughout Europe and North Africa for twelve years and returned to Harlem in 1934, having denounced Stalin's Soviet Union. By then, McKay's pristine "violent sonnets" were giving way to confessional lyrics informed by his newfound Catholicism. McKay's verse eludes easy definition, yet this complete anthology, vividly introduced and carefully annotated by William J. Maxwell, acquaints readers with the full transnational evolution of a major voice in twentieth-century poetry.

Selected Poems of Langston Hughes

Selected Poems of Langston Hughes
Author: Langston Hughes
Publisher: Vintage
Total Pages: 311
Release: 1990-09-12
Genre: Poetry
ISBN: 067972818X

Langston Hughes electrified readers and launched a renaissance in Black writing in America—the poems in this collection were chosen by Hughes himself shortly before his death and represent stunning work from his entire career. The poems Hughes wrote celebrated the experience of invisible men and women: of slaves who "rushed the boots of Washington"; of musicians on Lenox Avenue; of the poor and the lovesick; of losers in "the raffle of night." They conveyed that experience in a voice that blended the spoken with the sung, that turned poetic lines into the phrases of jazz and blues, and that ripped through the curtain separating high from popular culture. They spanned the range from the lyric to the polemic, ringing out "wonder and pain and terror—and the marrow of the bone of life." The collection includes "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," "The Weary Blues," "Still Here," "Song for a Dark Girl," "Montage of a Dream Deferred," and "Refugee in America." It gives us a poet of extraordinary range, directness, and stylistic virtuosity.

A Long Way from Home

A Long Way from Home
Author: Claude McKay
Publisher: Prabhat Prakashan
Total Pages: 292
Release: 2024-08-31
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

Welcome to the world of Claude McKay's "A Long Way from Home," a poignant journey of self-discovery, identity, and belonging. Follow the protagonist, who embarks on a transformative journey from Jamaica to America, navigating the complexities of race, culture, and personal identity. Claude McKay's evocative prose captures the struggles and triumphs of the immigrant experience, offering readers a profound exploration of the human spirit. Throughout the novel, McKay weaves a tapestry of themes including discrimination, resilience, and the pursuit of the American Dream. His rich character development and vivid descriptions paint a vivid picture of the early 20th-century landscape, inviting readers to reflect on the challenges faced by those who seek a better life in a new land. "A Long Way from Home" resonates with its powerful depiction of the immigrant experience, capturing the hopes and aspirations of those who dare to dream beyond their circumstances. McKay's keen observations and lyrical prose offer readers a window into a world where courage and determination shape destinies. Since its publication, "A Long Way from Home" has received acclaim for its insightful portrayal of race relations and its timeless relevance. It remains a classic work of literature that continues to inspire and provoke thought, making it essential reading for those interested in exploring the complexities of cultural identity and social justice. Join us on this unforgettable journey through Claude McKay's "A Long Way from Home," where the quest for belonging and self-fulfillment takes center stage. Discover why this novel has captivated readers for generations and experience the enduring power of McKay's storytelling. Don't miss your chance to delve into this masterpiece of literature. Grab your copy of "A Long Way from Home" today and embark on a literary adventure that will challenge your perceptions and touch your heart.

Banjo

Banjo
Author: Claude McKay
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Total Pages: 340
Release: 1929
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 9780156106757

"Lincoln Agrippa Daily, known on the 1920s Marseilles waterfront as 'Banjo,' prowls the rough waterfront bistros with his drifter friends drinking, looking for women, playing music, fighting, loving, and talking--about their homes in Africa, the West Indies, or the American South, and about being black"--Publisher marketin