During the time of the Jim Crow laws, many blank Americans struggled with the idea of living in the "Land of the Free" but being denied basic human rights. How does McKay's poem "America" reflect this experience? OR Do you think this poem is still relevant today?

hopes for change although America treats him with bitterness and hatred.

Explanation:

Claude McKay's poem "America" presents the idea of how the poet hopes for change although America treats him with bitterness and hatred. The poet relates to the bitter experiences of the Jim Crow Laws with lines like "Although she feeds me bread of bitterness, And sinks into my throat her tiger’s tooth,". However, he continues to say that he is hopeful that there would come a day when America will treat him better and equally.

As we know, many Black-Americans struggled with the idea of living in the "Land of the Free" but being denied basic human rights during the Jim Crows Laws, still the poet does not give in into hatred and bitterness. Instead he says that the idea of 'America' itself gives him strength and power to stand against all odds and challenges because he knows that someday America will treat him better.

i   believe   the   answer   is   d