author uses the line of “The awful sin remained still unforgiven” to insinuate that being born black was considered by him and other African Americans at that time to be a sin or something to be ashamed of. He blames this African American man’s death on “Fate’s wild whim” and never once blames the racist white males who most likely lynched him for no good reason, nor does he seem to express anger towards them. This poem shows the “miseducation of the Negro” in that it has the author writing about what he witnessed as virtually an everyday occurrence that is accepted in the natural cycle of life and death. It shows that the author may very well believe these to be truths, and illustrates the absolute brainwashing of African American slaves into viewing this man’s lynching death as somewhat normal or even expected. On the other hand, it also shows the ignorance and the miseducation of the white race towards African Americans. The line reading, “The women thronged to look, but never a one showed sorrow in her eyes of steely blue.”, clearly shows how white women view this occurrence as “normal” as well, and show no remorse for an obviously brutal crime. They accept this as what’s “right” and view the hanging corpse as if it was an obstacle put on stage for their pure amusement. In addition, the “little lads, lynchers that were to be” that dance “ round the dreadful thing in fiendish glee” in Claude McKay’s poem show how this miseducation of whites against blacks is instilled in an early age. The fact that young children would be exposed to a hanging corpse is preposterous in itself, but the fact that they see this black man’s lynching death as funny or good creates adults down the line that continue with the same form of brutish and miseducated behavior.Also in line with this same slavery-ridden period ...
