If We Must Die
How does Mckay’s poem resonate with the experience of blacks during this time?

From academic texts to The Atlantic, contemporary literature shows how McKay’s 1919 poem remains relevant, offering language to inspire courage in the face of racism. Director Ava DuVernay included the poem, recited by actors Don Cheadle and David Oyelowo, in a short film she created for the 2016 opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

his humanity shines from every page as he bears witness to the tragedy which befell the jewish race at the hands of the nazis. wiesel was a romanian-born jew whose home town of sighet was occupied by the hungarians for most of the second world war. in may 1944, all the jews in the area were forced into cattle wagons and transported to auschwitz.