Importance of Caribbean Cultural Identity and Diaspora
Cultural identity is one of the most important aspects of human life, which can understand in many different ways. People usually regard culture as one shared thing, which remains unchanged throughout their lifetime. In Stuart Hall’s “Cultural Identity and Diaspora” essay, he illustrates the essential features of cultural identity by providing and discussing two important definitions of cultural identity and diaspora. Hall’s first definition depicts cultural identity as one shared culture while the second definition focuses more on the significant difference that lies within the culture. In the poem, “If We Must Dye” the poet Claude McKay introduces Caribbean cultural identity by reinforcing …show more content…
This poem has a specific message for both whites and black people. By using Shakespeare form, McKay not only criticizing the whites by calling them as “monsters” but also he is challenging the European intelligence. In addition, he is trying to show the white supremacy that as a black he is just as literate as any other whites who is capable of writing a well-organized, particularly structured and famous Shakespeare sonnet to convey his message. Therefore, he is reinforcing the Europeans not to consider black or Caribbean people as illerare, inferior and savage. By using different kinds of metaphors, rhymes and repetition the poet McKay wants to portray his protesting ideas against all the tortures and racial violence against the black people. In addition, he is encouraging his allies not to be afraid, but fight back for their rights. By reading this poem the readers certainly feel the strong message behind the poem. For Instance, in the 1st line he is forbidding the black people not to become like hogs and in the third line he is comparing his enemies with a hungry dog. Moreover, by repeating “If We Must Die” phrase in line one and fifth the speaker of the poem definitely considering that his allies are in a dangerous situation. However, he is not advising them to give up and embracing death easily like hogs. Instated he is telling the black people to die like a hero who fights till death for
Cultural identity is one of the most important aspects of human life, which can understand in many different ways. People usually regard culture as one shared thing, which remains unchanged throughout their lifetime. In Stuart Hall’s “Cultural Identity and Diaspora” essay, he illustrates the essential features of cultural identity by providing and discussing two important definitions of cultural identity and diaspora. Hall’s first definition depicts cultural identity as one shared culture while the second definition focuses more on the significant difference that lies within the culture. In the poem, “If We Must Dye” the poet Claude McKay introduces Caribbean cultural identity by reinforcing …show more content…
This poem has a specific message for both whites and black people. By using Shakespeare form, McKay not only criticizing the whites by calling them as “monsters” but also he is challenging the European intelligence. In addition, he is trying to show the white supremacy that as a black he is just as literate as any other whites who is capable of writing a well-organized, particularly structured and famous Shakespeare sonnet to convey his message. Therefore, he is reinforcing the Europeans not to consider black or Caribbean people as illerare, inferior and savage. By using different kinds of metaphors, rhymes and repetition the poet McKay wants to portray his protesting ideas against all the tortures and racial violence against the black people. In addition, he is encouraging his allies not to be afraid, but fight back for their rights. By reading this poem the readers certainly feel the strong message behind the poem. For Instance, in the 1st line he is forbidding the black people not to become like hogs and in the third line he is comparing his enemies with a hungry dog. Moreover, by repeating “If We Must Die” phrase in line one and fifth the speaker of the poem definitely considering that his allies are in a dangerous situation. However, he is not advising them to give up and embracing death easily like hogs. Instated he is telling the black people to die like a hero who fights till death for