In this discussion, Claude McKay, a pivotal figure in the Harlem Renaissance, shines a light on his iconic sonnet 'America.' Joined by experts Bill Maxwell, a McKay scholar and editor of his complete works, and Vince Sherry, a professor specializing in McKay, they delve into the poem’s complex emotional landscape during a time of racial tension. The conversation highlights themes of love and conflict, traditional literary forms, and the prophetic nature of McKay's insights on society, all while reevaluating the relationship between poetry and cultural identity.
