What is the meaning of Claude McKay's poem America?

Answer 1

Although it is sometimes difficult to live in a country filled with racism the speaker still loves America because it makes him grow to be a stronger person. "Her hate" gives him strength, and although America is a huge country he is still willing to put up a fight against it like "a rebel fronts a king in a state." He is not afraid of it, he simply looks toward the future day after day. He sees how mighty America is and he appreciates it because of that. However time is being wasted like priceless treasures sinking in the sand. He believe that the longer America is ignorant toward blacks the more time is being wasted because there are many black people who can do great things for America, but because America has such a racist culture it doesn't allow blacks to prosper, and so time is being wasted.

(See the related link to read the poem.)

Answer 2

The tone in each set of seven lines is also different. The first seven lines take on a critical and bleak view towards America. Yet while pessimism pervades through the second set of lines, one cannot help but notice the hope invoked in the last sentence with regard to priceless treasures out in the distance. It's as if McKay has the same hope for America as he does for his poem: infusing good aspects of America's time honored traditions with new ideas to make an even better product