Claude McKay’s poems “The Barrier” and “December, 1919” may seem to tell different stories at first glance, but they can also be seen as part of one connected narrative. First, examining “The Barrier,” I can see that it is a work that effectively incorporates the woes and sorrows of the Black race, as well as the discrimination experienced due to race. In particular, it describes the power held by whites and the racial discrimination they showed towards Blacks. In this poem, the speaker uses expressions that vivid descriptions of color to explain the differences between races, the discrimination resulting from them, power, and inequality as much as possible. By utilizing contrasts commonly associated with black and white, such as “Dawning,” “Sun-illumined,” “Glowing spark,” and “Dark,” the speaker raises their voice against the discrimination and inequality they face. Additionally, the appearance of “a river reed” suggests that, due to the discrimination and limitations imposed by whites, Blacks must simply flow along with the beautiful voice, like the rustling of reeds in the wind. Furthermore, it is evident that the speaker maximizes poetic expression through various similes.
In “December, 1919,” the speaker emerges as one who misses their mother. Moreover, the speaker desires to cry, but cannot at the moment. It has been ten years since their mother passed away, and like that time, they once again yearn to cry out loud. Here, the speaker emphasizes the continuous flow of tears by depicting them as a fountain, suggesting that their tears keep flowing constantly. But, the speaker cannot cry freely, and the exact reason for this is not explicitly stated in the poem. However, considering “The Barrier” written by the same author, where the speaker fights against racial discrimination and utilizes poetry as a tool to raise awareness of the harms of racial discrimination, one can infer that it is a situation where crying is impossible because of the hardship and hatred towards the world. Nevertheless, tears flow naturally when the faint memory of the mother, who supported and loved them more than anything, comes to mind, making it evident. However, more importantly, considering the current suffering of Black people and their human rights, as well as oppression, I can also understand the speaker’s strong determination, realizing the reason why the speaker cannot shed tears freely. Nevertheless, he must move forward; thus, he cannot shed tears.
Jisoo Jang
Introduction to Poetry 