Wednesday, December 2, 2009

To the White Fiends #3

This poem was written in the 1920s, a time in America when segregation was still common and Black people had very little political power. What do you suppose White people would have thought of his poem? What do you suppose Black people would have thought?
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14 comments:

  1. GwenDecember 2, 2009 at 12:50 PM

    I think that White people would've thought that this poem was a joke. They probably would've thought that only a Black person that wanted to die would write such a thing. Writing such a poem to the White people during the time of segregation was unheard of. They were probably enraged from the idea of Black people being on the same freedom level as the White people. I suppose that Black people would've thought that McKay was a very brave person that believed in the power of people. I think that this poem would've motivated the Black people to break through the segregation and unfairness.

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  2. Kok YingDecember 2, 2009 at 2:32 PM

    It was a very early stage of African civil rights movement in 1920s. I think the White people just treated this poem as bullshit at the first moment due to their arrogance. However, they might realize that the Black people were being stronger to fight for their rights. In addition, the Black people got help from non-Africans, such as the writer. Therefore, I think the White people might be worried about the poem as well as the Black's power.
    On the other hand, the Black people were surprised and thankful for the poem written for them as they were oppressed for a very long time. I think they might be more united to fight for their rights.

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  3. dtwelve89December 2, 2009 at 7:20 PM

    During this time period, the White people who read this poem were probably enraged. This probably was not tolerated and the author might have been a target for some white supremacist. As for the black readers, they probably didn't like it either. This was a time way before the Civil Rights Movement began, Rosa Parks didn't happen until 1955. This was the time when Black people endured the injustices that eventually led to the civil rights movement. Black people were probably afraid of how this might have affected them because it probably stirred up some animosity in those already tense times.

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  4. Benson O.oDecember 3, 2009 at 7:47 AM

    My opinion to this poem is that it is a way too aggressively piece of paper to the White at that time. Because in 1920s, Black were still sufferying from the segregation and didn't have real "right and power". White got used to a life that discriminate and seperated from Black. White assumed that Blacks satisfy and can definitely tolerate what they were suffering. This poem is a surprise to the White, and they would probably think that the author of the peom is crazy talking, but also a little bit of afraid about the warning from the poem. But the fear can never help to stop the discrimination but lead more suppress. The idea to end discrimination using violent or warning is not a wise way to go.
    When Black saw this peom, they would not appreciate this poem either. Even though the peom expressed what they were thinking and also showing what they dared to say. But such a aggressively peom can bring disaster to them. A good leader is someone fight for other and also think about the result for others.

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  5. Dev[PM]December 3, 2009 at 4:05 PM

    To be honest, the 1920s also happened to be the peak of the KKK movement. White people would have thought that the poem was absolutely ludicrous and completely absurd. They would have likely taken the matter to the extreme, even to the extent of possibly even lynching a few black people. As for the blacks, they would have likely found this as a stimulant for nationalism, to better themselves solely for the purpose of “winning” the respect of the whites. However, most would often take a glance at the message and would likely forget it in order to “go with the flow” so they would not suffer the tragedy of being lynched by moronic White supremacist mobs. Humans tend to be social creatures, and we tend to go with the flow. In this situation, it is no exception; neither the nature of whites or blacks is any different.

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  6. kalDecember 3, 2009 at 4:54 PM

    I agree with what Benson and dtwelve89 said. Even though it is not indicated when exactly this poem was written, it is mentioned above this poem that McKay spent most of the 1920s abroad, and this poem is not part of the “Harlem Shadows” which was published in America. Even though I have not read the whole of “Harlem Shadows”, I went through the contents and read a couple of poems and in that book, he doesn’t seem to be expressing his feelings toward white people in the same way that he did in “To the White Fiends”. Among the poems the one I found to be closely related to the “To the White Fiends” was “Enslaved”. In that poem he says:

    “Then from the dark depths of my soul I cry
    To the avenging angel to consume
    The white man's world of wonders utterly”

    In this poem, even though he is expressing his feeling towards white people, he is just asking for an angel to come and avenge the black people. This sends a message that it is absolutely impossible for black people to avenge themselves without some kind of miracle. There is really no realistic treat that white people might have seen from the poem. On the other hand, in the “To the White Fiends” which I am assuming he wrote after he left America, he is saying some powerful things that might have threatened the white people and this might have endangered the lives of the black people that were living in America at the time. In conclusion, since I have assumed that the poem was written abroad there is a chance that is wasn’t well know in America at the time, but if it was, it would have threatened the lives and safety of Black people and like Benson and dtwelve89 said, Black people themselves would have been afraid for their safety.

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  7. AndcliuDecember 3, 2009 at 6:04 PM

    I suppose the white people would’ve seen this poem as if it was a sort of joke. They believed that they were inferior to everyone that came abroad especially to Black people whom they’ve enslaved. Back then they would’ve seen as impossible for Black people to rise and do “things” as described in the poem. For Black people on the other hand, this poem would’ve been a wakeup call. The need for revenge is boiling within and a sense of pride is probably being spawn by the second they begin reading this poem.

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  8. J. KongDecember 3, 2009 at 6:23 PM

    I agree with everyone before me. However, not to sound pessimistic, but maybe the White people thought what a bunch of imbeciles attempting to resist in a time when opposing the oppressors was futile. Most whites are not segregated into communities that isolate them from the best employment opportunities, schools, and community services. They had privilege. The blacks however were forced to slavery. And this passage probably provoked the Whites, maybe they thought that the blacks were disrupting the flow of things. For the blacks, this passage probably invoked fear in them because they were afraid to speak. They may be sympathetic to doing something about oppression, but they're afraid of being threatened and blamed if they acknowledge that this core dilemma exists.

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  9. Joey phanDecember 4, 2009 at 12:18 AM

    1920s is the period of segregation between black and white, and black people had suffered political, economy, and physical abuses. so, white people would thought of this poem as a form a resistance of the black people. they would not let this go so easily, and may even led to violent actions against black people. on the other hand, Black people would thought of this form as an empowerment or awakening. the poem helps express all the thoughts and feelings that had been hidden inside them for a long time. many black people may feel the same way as the author, but they did not have the courage to say them out loud.

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  10. UnknownDecember 4, 2009 at 10:23 AM

    Since racism was a major problem in U.S. in 1920s, segregation existed everywhere. Therefore, when White people saw this poem, they would treat this poem as a joke, a distant joke that can not happen or come true. I guess they might think how can you black people fight against our white people? Since you black people were born in black color, it has been a signal of lower class, lower than our white people. You black people should be enslaved by us. It is the fate you could not change or avoid. Also, they might discriminate black people and against them more seriously. On the other hand, for black people, they would think this poem was a effective way to appeal their emotions, and stimulate their compatriots to take measures fighting for their unequal situations.

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  11. JosephDecember 4, 2009 at 1:09 PM

    At first, both groups of people, White and Black would be embrassed by this poem. In the time of 1920s, there was still segregation and black people were in the lower position than white people. For white people, this poem would be rude and funny, because this peom frankly and straightly criticizes the racism and reveals an indomitable will to overcome the racism and white racists. They also would feel bad and have worse ill feeling toward black people by this poem. For balck people, this poem would be a shock. At that time, it would be hard to freely and plainly reveal ill toward white racists. This poem would give fear to black people but in the other hand, this poem would give hope, conveying the steady will to overcome the hardship under racism to black people.

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  12. Anya liuDecember 7, 2009 at 10:23 PM

    This Movement also known as the Negro Renaissance or New Negro Movement in the 20th century, It mainly can be summarized as two points, the first is improved black's consciousness and national self-esteem in that situation. so I suppose that the black would wake up to have an independent personality and rebellious spirit of the new image. I suppose that the white would think this Movement is a stupid thing because Black have been enslaved for a long time.

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  13. Darius ChanDecember 9, 2009 at 9:02 AM

    I think the White people would think McKay was nut because they did not believe Black people could have the same abilities as they do. In those days, White people totally controlled the United States and I think there is no way for Black people to grow their political power. Additionally, White people might not afraid with McKay’s poem because I thought there is not only one poem is talking about the Black people. However, White people might be shocked by the education level of McKay. They might ask, “How can a Black people write this poem?” In those days, I think most of the Black people didn’t have the opportunity to study or read. When Black people read this poem, they might have two responses. Some of them might be scared because they might think McKay brought the danger to them. Because of the poem, White people might treat Black people badly. Some of the Black people might support McKay’s thought because they wanted to fight for their freedom and right that they should have. However, no one knew will it succeed. If McKay’s thought is succeed, it is a big step for the growth of the Black culture. On the other hand, if McKay’s though does not succeed, McKay might get in danger. In my point of view, the worst situation is some of the Black people might betray McKay, so they could save their lives from the White people or they might want get some benefits in it.

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  14. Isaac7600December 10, 2009 at 2:51 PM

    I think that for alot of white folks this poem would of sounded very threatning. Some would not think of it much, other than just another reason to think less of Black folks as crazy or savages. For others, maybe in the south it could of been the cause for a group of whites to look for the author or take revenge upon any black person through violence. In contrast, black folks I think would have a mixture of reactions. In those days of open racism, it was clear to many Black folks who their oppressor was and they knew the capabilities and brutality that it can inflict. Knowing this, there were those who would of read it, and rejected it as crazy. Trying to distant themselves from it through fear of losing their jobs and for their safety. However, there were those that would of embrace it as an expression of the rage that had been built for hundreds of years.

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