Running Head: THE CRY FOR NEW BIRTH

The Cry for New Birth
Tammy Wilkins
Dr. Nancy Barlar
HUM112
May 21, 2012

The Cry for New Birth

President Lincoln’s fiery compassion to save the Union by ending slavery produced the Emancipation Proclamation, ending the drudgery and dehumanization of African Americans in 1863. Lincoln had a passion for the newly released slaves and with the best of intentions, planned to construct colonies for them to live in after they were released but these intentions were never realized. It wasn’t until 1920 that a group of literary writers began their own cry for emancipation and through their compassion for their fellow African Americans, began putting those feelings and thoughts on paper in the form of writings and poetry. This cry of lamentation, expressed through heart rending writings and heart felt poetry, was known as the Harlem Renaissance, and otherwise referred to as the “New Negro Movement.” There were many changes that were to be seen during this rebirth that lasted twenty four years. The writings were not only the lament of men and women voicing their rage and empathy for their fellow African Americans plight of slavery, but were writings that would sooth the wounds of former slavery and take the former slaves trough the far reaching effects of a stock market crash and the further woes of the ensuing Great Depression. The renaissance period brought forth the movement that changed the entire social, physiological, and personal views of Negro Americans of themselves as it related to their past and catapulted them into creating a social standing never before seen until that time. What began in Harlem would forever change the face of the Negro American in the eyes of all other races. The new writings and poetry that resulted from this period, encouraged the African American to shed the “ex-slave” view of themselves and to rise up and “embracing a new psychology and new spirit” (Watkiss, 2012).
The Cry for New Birth

Many writers and poets emerged during this time to write about their thoughts and beliefs painting a bleak picture for the reader of how life truly used to be for the slave, but shining a bright beam of light that pointed to a more promising future. Perhaps one of the most prolific writers of this time, Claude McKay (Sayer, 2012), wrote what was referred to as a “militant sonnet,” titled, “If We Must Die (Pericles, 2010). The poem never actually refers to race, but to the African American the poem spoke encouragement to stand up against racism, common practice of hangings, and race riots that were happening regularly in the streets. McKay doesn’t wait to somehow allude to the fact that the blacks need to simply or gently protect themselves ‘if necessary.” He purposely titled the poem in such a way that tells the reader that if it comes to death, they need to fight with everything they have to save themselves and their brothers and sisters from the onslaught of the racism that was taking the lives of so many.
In line three of the poem, McKay uses the phrase “mad and hungry dogs.” This line was actually speaking to the fact that when the whites attacked the black neighborhoods they used dogs to attack, scare and bring blacks under their control. In lines one and five he encourages the blacks to fight back if they do “not want to die horribly being tortured” but to fight hard and strong and not go easily. McKay paints violent and sad imagery of what the blacks are enduring at the hands of the white men who oppose their very presence in the towns that the blacks established for themselves. The poem in its entirety almost demands the militant support from blacks to not allow their neighborhoods to be taken without a fight.

The Cry for New Birth

Claude Mckay said in this poem what many were afraid to say because of fear of reprisal, but his message gave many what they needed to fight for survival and justice for themselves and their fellowman.
Claude McKay was not just some unconcerned bystander that decided to write a poem to excite blacks to riot, but this Jamaican born man moved to Harlem in 1934 and traveled extensively to Russia and France, also living in the United States getting a first hand view of what was transpiring at that time. He wrote from his heart and encouraged his brothers and sisters to act from their hearts to protect what they had rightfully fought for, for years: equality and recognition for their desire to be socially recognized and revered for their contribution to society. McKay also wrote, “The Harlem Dancer and “Invocation,” and is credited with “setting the tone” (Poetry.org 2012) for the Harlem Renaissance through his various heartfelt writings.
Another well know poet during this period was, Countee Cullen II (Moore,2012), known for his poem entitled, “Incident”. Cullen lived in Harlem and was raised by his grandmother until he was fifteen and adopted by a Harlem minister when his grandmother passed away. Cullen’s first writing made it into his high schools magazine, but would be one of the many writings published as he continued to inspire so many. Cullen would get a first hand look at the happenings of the Harlem Renaissance period as he resided in Harlem at the time the efforts of the African Americans were coming to fruition.

The Cry for New Birth

The poem, “Incident” seems to be written from the view of a child and was possibly the personal views and feelings of Cullen, as he grew up in Harlem in a very volatile period of time and saw all of what happened as a child, teen, and adult.
Cullen could write from a very informed perspective and seems to call for empathy as he speaks from perhaps his own child hood experience of racism against him and the racism that was being taught during that time. An adult reading the poem would defiantly be stirred to stand up for the child and the prejudice they are seeing and feeling for themselves. In the second line of the poem the child perspective is “Heart-filled, head-filled with glee” until the child’s feelings are crushed when in line four says “His tongue and called me, “Nigger.” One can almost picture the shock, hurt and downcast look upon the face of the child telling of the encounter. In line twelve of the poem an adult wound be incensed at the thought, that out of all the beauty and experiences of the trip the child states “That’s all that I’ll remember.”
The poets of the Harlem Renaissance inspired the movement with much heart through their writings. Although some people were vehemently against the things that the poems said and the riots and fighting back that they also inspired, it doesn’t change the fact that the things needed to be said and the riots were a type of catalyst that eventually led to the complete freedom and equality that many today would never have known if not for this period. These inspirational poets of this time never could have imagined the impact and influence their writings had on that this period, or how their words would transcend time and affect much of the opinions and causes today. There is no way to repay these talented, compassionate writers except to pass on their
The Cry for New Birth

words and the legacy of freedom and equal rights among all, regardless of race or creed. We owe a large debt of gratitude to these writers for paving the way that has allowed all those coming after them to exchange the bonds of slavery for the bonds of friendships and families we are blessed with today. These men and women that lived and wrote through some of the hardest most challenging periods of their time, proved through their writings that value is not assessed by the color of one’s skin, but by the contribution made, that is birthed out of one’s heart.

The Cry for New Birth

References

Moore, A. (2012). Countee Cullen. Retrieved May 21, 2012 from http://harlemrenaissancepoets4.wikispaces.com/Countee+Cullen+II

Pericles, H. (2010) Poetry Analysis:If We Must Die by Clause McKay retrieved May 21, 2012 from http://www.helium.com/items/802718-poetry-analysis-if-we-must-die-by-claude-mckay

Sayer, H.M. (2012).The Humanities: Culture, continuity and change, Volume 2(2nd ed.).
(2011 Custom Edition).Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.

Watkiss, C. (1997) Rhapsodies in Black. Retrieved May 21, 2012 from http://www.iniva.org/harlem/home.html

Forward

Fighting exists on the streets without
As fear stirs the souls within
To think a man must live or die
Solely color of his skin

What will it take to stem the tide
Of prejudice born without a cause
As homes are burned and people ravaged
In the wake of reverie and applause

Can the cry for freedom be answered
Does it resound in any ear
Will there come a day one can lay down
In true absence of any fear

Moving forward for rightful position
Risking all, progress, unite
A better tomorrow to be realized
All well worth the fight

©Wilkins May 21, 2012