Finally, this is what I've been waiting for. Poetry from the streets of Harlem, in the thick of its Rennaissance. With poignant care and beautiful realism Claude McKay captures the anger, frustration, sadness and enduring spirit of his people in Harlem.
Of all the poems here I felt the best by far was "The Negro Dancers." As a three-part house party epic, McKay captures not only the feeling of truly being in the setting of the smokey basement, but also the sense that he is constructing an analogy for the entire lives of his people as well. Trapped in an endless dance while they live beaten down to this underworld of oppression, poverty and despair, still they continue the dance. And not only do they dance, but they dance with joy in their eyes, in a mirthful, consistent swirl of excitement and happiness and they truly boggle McKay's mind with their perseverence.
There are also other broader, common themes here such as a "live for today" notion, evidenced by McKay's references to the dance being the dancers "true joy of life." The most gripping and touching aspect of the poem, however, is McKay's wide-eyed wonderment of his people as he exclaims with an "oh!" and the dancers capture him with the "dreamy loveliness" of the "poetry in their eyes."
It is not a poem of hope. There is no certainty of a brighter better future for the people of Harlem or for his race at this point in history, but McKay is rather stepping back in admiration of their love for the dance, which can't help but be interpreted as a representation of life. While life is as difficult as it is, the "negro dancers" perseverance to find happiness amidst their day to day sadness.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
When I first read "The Negro Dancers" I wasn't sure I liked it very much. After class, I felt completely different about it. I thought McKay did a great job conveying the setting, the feelings, and emotions that were tied into the dance. He says, "laughing puppets spin", as though they are going through the motion with little expression as if they are exhausted from working all day. In the third part he describes the dance and how it serves as a survival mechanism for African Americans. They find creativty where they can, and for them its within music. This poem was extremely power.
I find it interesting that The Negro Dancers is one of the few poems that doesn’t include words of encouragement and hope for the future of the black race. The title alone makes it sound like the poem would be more upbeat and display a side of beauty onto the black race. (I just think that because I visualize dancers as being graceful and positive figures.) I also think it’s interesting how McKay’s view of the dancers in the basement is portrayed differently than Johnson’s view of the party scene. Johnson’s tone was enthusiastic as he described the nightlife, gambling, clubs and music. McKay’s writing is much more subdued, almost dull as he uses phrases like “vacant-eyes”, “scarcely seems awake”, and “a lazy tune.” McKay doesn’t seem to enjoy that life style and scene as much as Johnson had. Maybe it’s different because Johnson had a strong love for music and entertainment.
At first i thought these woman were strippers... I thought the whites were making them strip all day and all night like puppets at hourly puppet show. the negro woman is strong and demands respect without saying it. They have confidence and an aura, claude says this and writes of how they are still seen as the outkasts of the earth.
I now can see that this was a club or entertainment spot for negroes of the time period. They are having a good time and it reminds me of the book we just read. They are making fun out of nothing, Claude shows the negroes emptiness as them not being free. He describes a basement as they didnt have the money for a nice club to present their talent. .. He says they drink "vacant eyed" yet merry because they dont require much and they stand to be happy even in a country where they are so suppressed
I completely agree with your interpretation of the poem. I also got the sense- and maybe this is just me- that McKay was decidedly outside of this dancing group. He seems amazed by their ability to be joyful because oppression is always at the forefront of his mind. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that he is an immigrant, but he's not able to live for the moment the way they are.
Post a Comment