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Teaching If We Must Die

If We Must Die

As a Jamaican immigrant to the United States, Claude McKay's writing introduced many complex themes, both from his experiences in Jamaica and his life in the United States. 'If We Must Die' was written as a response to what is now called The Red Summer of 1919. During this summer, there was a rise in hate crime, race riots, and overall violence towards the Black community. 

Claude McKay
Public Domain

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

Why is this poem popular with resistance movements?
STANDARDS:
RL.1 - Meaning & Evidence, RL.2 - Main Ideas, RL.4 - Key Terms & Tone

DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE (DOK) LEVELS:

2,3
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