Harlem Renaissance poet, Claude McKay, presents the poem The White House on the identity struggles that oppressed Americans often face. An important issue that McKay tries to solve in this poem is how a disheartened person should feel about being an outcast. The lens of this poem examines how a member of American society feels, when they are excluded from the benefits that are offered to only some. Not only does it raise the question of what it means to be an American, but how an individual should deal with the bitterness of being excluded. Like an adolescent student feeling excluded in the school cafeteria, or being rejected membership in an exclusive club; we all have felt what it’s like to feel left out. In this case, however, the author takes it from the perspective of physically being the country of America, yet still feeling as an outcast. This is more similar to the individual who has gained membership into a club or sports team, yet is not fully accepted into the social aspect of it. Often times, this can be worse for us since we constantly work to be accepted by our peers, and having this dynamic can seriously damage our self-esteem.
Despite the unfortunate situation of many Americans not feeling that they belong to the nation’s identity, due to how they are treated, McKay offers an optimistic approach to dealing with this as an individual. He states that when society shuts its metaphorical door of opportunity and acceptance to certain people, they are compelled to be “sharp as steel with discontent.” He recognizes that nobody wants to be in this situation, yet if they are, then they have the right to be upset while keeping a level of composure in expressing their sentiments. By telling the reader, specifically one who relates to the conflicts presented, the author is creating an identity for certain Americans. It is an identity in which he gives instructions for how to attain that specific identity. Like a coach who instills values of teamwork within the athletes, McKay is attempting to give a new identity to individuals who are disheartened with being an outcast. Even if that individual experiences the “potent poison” of discrimination, the author hope to give such people an identity that he aligns with.
When we look at how identity can be expressed, it is easy to overlook how identity can easily be erased from others. When one group of people attempts to disenfranchise the identity of another, the effects can be disastrous. McKay realizes what it is like to be an immigrant in America, being able to establish here but not accepted by people around you. The frustrations and anger that this injustice brings to many is more than people can comprehend, but McKay offers advice to mitigate these feelings. He acknowledges that its okay to feel this way, but that one’s anger shouldn’t be a roadblock in finding their true identity. If we feel oppressed, we are not going to be comfortable expressing ourselves. The best solution for this, according to McKay, is to stay strong but remain careful not fight the fire of hate with more negativity. By keeping a peaceful approach, like Mahatma Ghandi or Martin Luther King Jr., the fire will eventually burn out. That is the identity that he hopes we will embrace for a better future.