In his poems, Claude McKay addresses the difficulty that African Americans experience in their adjustment to the demeaning urban environment of America. In “Harlem Shadows,” McKay writes on the innocent “little dark girls” who have resorted to prostitution as a means of survival. McKay presents the sad situation of “the sacred brown feet” to suggest that the oppression and belittlement of his race has led to its downfall. Even in his poem “Subway Winds,” McKay contrasts the artificial world of urban life to the purity of his homeland to suggest that there is some deceiving quality to New York’s impression. The “sick and heavy air” of the Subways reminds McKay of the breeze from “palm trees blooming.” In drawing this connection to his homeland, McKay characterizes New York as a trap, for it captivates people with the hope for a better future, but instead, only spurs a memory and longing to return home.
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I agree with you that Claude McKay wants to address the hardships that African Americans faced during this time period. I want to also point out that McKay uses repetition of “street to street” in his poem “Harlem Shadows” to indicate that these women are stuck in this job of prostitution because they have no choice. They have to make a living in order to stay alive. The author wants to emphasize this topic because people look down on prostitution, but they don’t understand the intensity of the situation that leads women to prostitution.