Claude McKay was born in Jamaica in 1889 and then came to the United States in 1912. Upon his arrival in the United States, he enrolled at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. He studied English-style poetry written by Milton and Pope. McKay soon realized that college was not the right path for him, so he decided to move to New York. There he did many odd jobs and through his experience in New York he became aware of the racism that existed in the country. This inspired much of his writing and led him to return to writing in a Jamaican dialect style. As McKay and his writing began to gain recognition, he used his platform to speak out against racial injustice towards African Americans in the United States. Soon he became one of Harlem's most famous Renaissance poets. On the surface, the poem America by Claude McKay is a poem that combines what America should be and stands for with what it is and the mentality it projects among the people. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Claude McKay's poem America is written in the form of a sonnet. This indicates that the poem has fourteen lines and features an abab cdcd efef gg motif. McKay chose to write America in sonnet form for a specific reason. He thought it was the best structure to be able to express his feelings. He did not view the rigid structure of a sonnet as a challenge, but he saw restriction as the only thing that could free his feelings. He realized that it was best to express his strong feelings by finding a way to get his writing into a form that could be directed. Since sonnets are musical, McKay believed his writings could be more memorable. The form and meaning of this poem are very closely linked. The meaning that Claude McKay was trying to convey in the poem was as important as the form of the poem. There is a shift in tone throughout the poem between the love and hatred that McKay has for America. The overall message of the poem is that McKay wants to express how much he suffers that he and his people are being treated so harshly. He then talks about his hopes for what America can become. Ultimately, America is his new home and he only wants the best for her. Claude McKay used his platform to speak out against this injustice in America because the average African American has been overlooked when it comes to speaking their truth. The poem states: "And sinks his tiger's tooth into my throat" (Claude, line 2) and this explains that McKay witnessed that in America, attempts were being made to silence the voices of African Americans so that their voices would not cannot be heard. The literal meaning of this poem is about someone being tested by a force and admiring their struggle and experiences. It also explains how difficult this person's life is and the courage it takes to persevere in the circumstances they are forced to live in. McKay's word choice and dictation enhance the depth of this poem. In the poem, McKay uses figurative language to express the truth of the feelings of his work. Throughout the poem, McKay refers to America as a woman. In a sense, this shows that this is a traditional sonnet addressing a female object of desire. At the beginning of the poem, McKay proclaims: "Though she feeds me the bread of bitterness and sinks her tiger's tooth into my throat, stealing my breath of life, I will confess that I love this cultivated hell that puts my youth to the test. » (Claude, lines 1-4) This shows McKay's bitterness towards the country and it is obvious that America is not a place for growth. “His vigor..