Friday, January 3, 2003

Enslaved Comments

Rating: 3.0

Oh when I think of my long-suffering race,
For weary centuries despised, oppressed,
Enslaved and lynched, denied a human place
In the great life line of the Christian West;
...
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Claude McKay
COMMENTS
Juhaina Tumlu 06 May 2023

Frustration is very clear / crystal clear in this poem. We talk about liberation, equality and what not but where it is found.

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HI 29 October 2021

OMW

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Unnikrishnan E S 12 February 2021

"Black Land disinherited..." wow! ! ! !

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Unnikrishnan E S 12 February 2021

"Enslaved and lynched......."b

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Dr Antony Theodore 18 December 2019

Let it be swallowed up in earth's vast womb, Or upward roll as sacrificial smoke To liberate my people from its yoke! very fine poem

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Mark James 13 March 2018

When you have carried the chains and bonds of Slavery maybe one can be so naive and stupid to talk of blame - this was the reality of the lives of black people and to dismiss it as merely perfunctory tells me stance on Equality and whether black lives are as valuable as yours -

6 5 Reply
Bill Cantrell 18 March 2016

such a shame to carry such hatred, to blame everyone for the acts of some, such a pity.

12 30 Reply
Valarie Dowling 12 April 2016

do you expect him to accept them with open arms. '' acts of some'' it was the majority of the white race. Wasn't it a shame how African Americans were ridiculed and oppressed everyday because of their skin. ''all'' of them were considered minorities. He has a right to hate them.

9 0
Susan Williams 17 March 2016

I read the biography on McKay's page and it was exceedingly interesting. I admire his writing skills but I cannot admire hatred as a response to hatred, violence as a response to violence, inhumanity as a response to inhumanity.. Humanity cannot be improved by generations copying the evils of the preceding generations. Now I will be disliked for speaking my heart as he spoke his.

31 8 Reply
Ratnakar Mandlik 17 March 2016

The sufferings of the race of the poet for number of generations and it's oppression has given an acrimonious tone to the most touching and sentimental poem. Thanks for sharing.10 +++

5 9 Reply
Kim Barney 17 March 2016

Whoa! This is a very strong statement, wishing the white man's world to be consumed utterly. I guess a history of injustice can do that to a person.

13 2 Reply
Paul Reed 17 March 2016

Inspired by this poem I read 'Flame-Heart' by the same poet, now in my favourite poems list.

4 2 Reply
Edward Kofi Louis 17 March 2016

My long-suffering race! Nice work.

4 6 Reply
Lewis Colyar 10 May 2007

We often hang our heads when things make us sad to painful to speak of. The voice in this poem speaks of a time when slavery happen to America. Happen to the African me. LHPS of Pittsburgh

33 52 Reply
Claude McKay

Claude McKay

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