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Difficulty: EasyThe Harlem Renaissance and the New Negro Movement

Read the following excerpt from Claude McKay's poem 'If We Must Die' (1919):

> If we must die, let it not be like hogs
> Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot,
> While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs,
> Making their mock at our accursed lot.
> ...
> What though before us lies the open grave?
> Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack,
> Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!

Which of the following attitudes of the New Negro Movement is best reflected in McKay's poem?

  1. A
    An embrace of strict nonviolent resistance and passive submission to demonstrate moral superiority over oppressors
  2. B
    A call for Black Americans to emigrate to West Africa or the Caribbean to avoid confronting American racial violence
  3. A defiant assertion of self-defense, dignity, and active resistance against racial oppression and violenceAnswer
  4. D
    An acceptance of political accommodation and social segregation in exchange for vocational training opportunities

Answer

A defiant assertion of self-defense, dignity, and active resistance against racial oppression and violence
McKay’s poem, written during the Red Summer of 1919, captures the spirit of the 'New Negro' who refused to passively submit to racial terror and violence. The lines 'Like men we'll face the murderous, cowardly pack, / Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!' directly express a stance of defiant self-defense and dignity in the face of oppression.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the tone and message of the poem's excerpt.
The poem uses active, confrontational language such as 'fighting back' and 'face the murderous, cowardly pack' to refuse passive submission to violence.
Identifying the core message of the source text helps determine which ideological attitude is being represented.
2
Relate the poem's themes to the core tenets of the New Negro Movement.
The New Negro Movement emphasized self-determination, racial pride, and a refusal to tolerate Jim Crow violence or submissive social roles.
Aligning the literary theme with the historical movement confirms the correct interpretation.

Key Concept

The shift toward militancy, self-defense, and cultural pride in the New Negro Movement as expressed through literature.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

The Harlem Renaissance and the New Negro Movement

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