Shadows in the Soul

Forward I walk in the shame and pain
Throughout my time I care not for gain
I am neither or two for I have insight and not insane
Glorying each day in my skin I feel
Looking inward I place all aside and walk forward still
Ignoring all I remember the cruel
Passing through I fell no spell
For justice is real and true

By

Felicia McCaw

Harlem Renaissance Poets
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Harlem Renaissance Poets
Strayer University
Felicia McCaw
Professor Cynthia Creel
Hum 112
Online Spring 2016
May 5, 2016
Harlem Renaissance Poets
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A time and era of cultural awakening for Black Americans helped provide a cultural identity in the 1920s and 1930s. This allowed a turning point where the Negro Movement helped open the door and allowed the flourishing of creative expression and caused an alteration from disillusionment to racial pride known as the Harlem Renaissance (originally called the New Negro Movement). Opportunities that never existed opened even though racism was evident with scarce economic avenues available.

During this timeframe Black owned magazines and newspapers became readily available and freed Black people from the confines and influence of White society. Expressions of art, song, dance, literary forms of poetry, music and books by Black authors became the new influence on Black society.

Like a true phenomenon this evolving and uplifting of a race was a great achievement and a founder of music greats, e.g., Duke Ellington and singer Bessie Smith. The Great Migration of African Americans contributed to the rise of the Harlem Renaissance whose period ranged from 1918-1935 and was located in Manhattan, New York. During the migratory time African Americans relocated from the South to the North where levels of increased literacy was allowed. Harlem was one of the most concentrated segments in this country that attracted Black intellectuals, talent and promoters of Black expressionism resulting in a tremendous influence on Black writers or artists that allowed them to become famous or was affected by the explosive growth, popularity and interest.

Although a black ghetto, it was a prosperous ghetto with cosmopolitan live entertainment and became the benefactor of new writers with two of the most famous writers being Claude

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McKay and Hughes Langston who were very influential in the fostering of ethnic pride and expressiveness.
One of Harlem’s poets who was significant and beneficial to the blossoming of Harlem Renaissance was Claude McKay who was born in Jamaica but relocated to the United States in 1912. His best works are his poems which emphasized, celebrated and supported Proletariats and called for racial militancy. He glorified the state of blackness in the face of White hostility and urged resistance of oppression unto death. Another writer of poetry and prose that was highly popular was Langston Hughes who was born in Joplin Missouri whose empathetic approach in writing supported and focused on the little people triumphs over adversity with heartfelt urgings to keep the American Dream alive. Even though his depictions are defeated, humiliated they are still survivors and heroes for others. Unlike Claude McKay’s poetry, Langston’s renditions proclaim a different approach of desire to save democracy for all and an establishment of universal values with no racial preference.

Both Claude McKay and Langston Hughes were very influential in the attracting of new writers for being authentically Black. Their popularity and talented display of literary ingeniousness was the impetus for the incredible growth, prosperity and investments of White literary to promote, teach and train new writers and allow publishing due to its physical location.

McKay’s feelings of social consciousness is clearly evident in the first six lines “Although she feeds me bread of bitterness, And sinks into my throat her tiger’s tooth, Stealing my breath of life, I will confess I love this cultured hell that tests my youth!, Her vigor flows like tides into my blood, Giving me strength erect against her hate” (“America” 1-6). His feelings of being hurt, disillusioned by racism, bigotry is evident in the outporing of sentiments reflecting

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that a race is being oppressed in a country that is relatively young but still able to grow and evolve to include the Black race as a complement and asset. Further even though his youth is being expended he will continue to endeavor to fight for equality. His goal was to express a desire for understanding that his race although accepting of the conditions of living still profess love for their adopted country with trueness and honesty. Also, that her strength is like an aphrodisiac in his blood clamoring and encouraging him to stand anyway against discrimination even though there is fear.

Langston approach is different but still reflects social consciousness that is evident in the entire poem “I am the darker brother, They send me to eat in the kitchen, When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong, Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table, When company comes, Nobody’ll dare, Say to me, “Eat in the Kitchen”, Then, Besides, They’ll see how beautiful I am, And be ashamed, I, too, am America” (“I, Too, Sing America” 1-17). His portrayal signifies and reveals the treatment of one race (white) and another (black) personifying discrimination, bigotry, tolerance and resentment and it is evident that he is socially conscious of his place in society when he is sent out to eat in the kitchen because he is not white and is considered unacceptable to eat with them. Because of his being conscious of his place that he is being regulated to he hopes to be treated equally in the future and allowed the same treatment as White people. Further that he would be seen as human, as unique and beautiful and worthy of equal treatment as White people.

Supportive of this time with corresponding a theme is McKay’s poem “Stealing my breath of life, I will confess, I love this cultured hell that tests my youth!, Her vigor flows like tides into my blood” (“America” 3-5) of love of a country with bitter sweetness and

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sadness of inequality and the effect of prejudice and bigotry. In a parallel thought, Langston’s theme reflects that he too is mournful, bitter with being treated as less than an equal in his poem “I am the darker brother, They send me to eat in the kitchens, When company comes” (“I, Too, Sing America” 1-3) because he hopes to be thought of as worthy, unique and receive the same treatment as White people. Both are contributory to an alteration of feelings as the laments are voiced in inequivocally intelligent outcries against the unfair, injustice of oppression and suppression.

Reflective of the educational level obtained and expressed by writings, poems and prose are supportive and evidential that the Black race is quite capable of assimilative abilities. Further even though the dangers were there these two were able to be great facilitators, encouragers and nurturers of the Harlem Renaissance and the evolution of free thought and deed. As with all, there has to be someone willing to take a chance and try anyway.




REFERENCES
Sayre, H.M. (2014) The Humanities: Culture, Continuity and Change, Boston, MA: Pearson
Shaduri, G. (2010) “Double Consciousness” and the poetry of Langston Hughes on the example of the Weary Blues (1923). IBSU Scientific Journal, 4(1), 89-98.
Berg, S. C. (2015). Harlem Renaissance. Salem Press Encyclopedia,
Shuman, R.B. (2003). Claude McKay. Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia,
"Harlem Renaissance." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. 2008. Retrieved May 05, 2016 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3045300994.html
Biography.com Editors, Langston Hughes Biography. Retrieved from
http://www.biography.com/people/langston-hughes-9346313

Weebly.com, Countee Cullen, Contribute to the Harlem Renaissance. Retrieved from
http://counteecullen.weebly.com/contribute-to-the-harlem-renaissance.html

Rowen, B. & Brunner, B., Great Days In Harlem. Retrieved from
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmharlem1.html

Poemhunter.com, Claude McKay’s Poems. Retrieved from
http://poemhunter.com/claude-mckay/

Poemhunter.com, Langston Hughes’s Poems. Retrieved from
http://www.poemhunter.com/langston-hughes

God is Perfect and Infinite

God is Perfect and Infinite
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God is Perfect and Infinite
Strayer University
Felicia McCaw
Professor Cynthia Creel
Hum 112
Online Spring 2016
April 11, 2016

God is Perfect and Infinite
2
Rene Descartes’ Discourse on the Method, Part IV, discusses the profession of faith and his lack of true perfection and God’s perfection and basis in truth. For indeed reality cannot exist without the imaginative thought and dreams that pervade the senses but is still affective to conscious thought. Further realization concludes that senses are not the establishment of true faith but proof of reality cannot be sustained physically but it is not possible to negate or interfere with the conclusionary thought that God is real.

The theoretical thought of “I am (existence), I am thinking and I exist) does justice as a beginning thought but as per further study it relates relationary value that this methodology of thinking pertains to a higher entity which prevails the establishment of investigation and contemplative thought that assisted in eradicating doubt. For as rightful is thought that beguiles a man to feel the flourishing of ideas and initiation of quests of instilled ability and where the fountain of riches manifest from for I am equal now.

For nothingness was not valid enough to substantiate with authority that ideas of God was false but became a finality in thought in assistance of establishing faith. Contradictory to view of perfection of self allowed humility, humbleness and allowance of acceptance of God’s gifts and wish for a state of perfection to exist in self. For indeed the lack of human failings is evident and absent in God and is a quality wanted and desired by all of who wish perfection.

As with nothingness as a state of the senses this state corresponds with the confused state of minds (mind sets). For indeed confusion is relevant and without imaginative ability that reflects the perception of relative existence garnered by the senses and sight.

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The possibility of perfection in humans is not possible for compared to God our flaws are many and encompass sins of all nature. Because of this realization of human frailty and failing it is evidentially apparent and reflects the visibility of the inability to be flawless.

Therefore, yielding to the inevitable of being flawed acknowledges the lack of perfection and inability to accomplish a state of glorious perfection. Because I am flawed, realization comes of the knowledge that an entity of higher thought and perfection exist who teaches all.

Another supportive that helped in the culmination of the theory of God and his perfection is the use of analytical study (Geometry) that was used as proof of consequence and evidence of a God that teaches, loves and fulfills his promise. Consequently, God’s existence is perfection. For perfection is the manifest of all and desire that therefore allows the submission and leading of people to the service of God and belief.

In conclusion, realization based on evidential thought is that doubt has been discarded and faith and belief in God has been established. Further that confused state of mind correlates to nothingness and nothingness is a simile of faith. Therefore, it renders the primary and proven conclusion that God is Perfect and Infinite.



REFERENCE
Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting one’s Reason and Seeking Truth in the Sciences, Rene Descartes. (Jonathan Bennett) (Part IV)
http://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/descartes1637.pdf


Felicia McCaw
Hum 112

God is Perfect and Infinite
I. Perfect and true is the proof of reality without imaginative thought to interfere that God is real
A. Faith found with basis of existence Equal I Am
B. Nothing could be something as contradictory to view of perfection of self
II. Confused States of Mind correspond to nothingness
A. Views of Possibility of Perfection In Humans
B. Yielding to inevitable of being flawed with lack of perfection
C. Using of analytical study (Geometry) to prove the consequence and evidence of God
III. Realization based on evidential thought God is Perfect and Infinite