Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Karenga Ya Marenga" by Countee Cullen is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that critiques the hypocrisy and racial prejudices inherent in the reception and valorization of calls for liberty across different cultures. The poem contrasts the celebrated cry for freedom by Patrick Henry, "Give me liberty or give me death," with a similar plea for freedom by Mahatma Gandhi, represented here by the phrase "Karenga Ya Marenga," which translates from Hindi to "Do or Die," a slogan Gandhi used during the Quit India Movement against British rule.

Cullen begins by questioning what qualities grant certain speeches a revered status while others, though similar in sentiment, are disregarded or viewed as lesser. He asks, "Wherein are words sublime or noble?" and "What / Invests one speech with haloed eminence," probing the criteria that elevate one call for freedom above another. The poem suggests that the disparity in reception is not due to the content or nobility of the sentiment but rather to racial and cultural biases.

The poet interrogates whether it is "the hue? Is it the cast of eye, / The curve of lip or Asiatic breath," that diminishes Gandhi's plea in the eyes of those who claim to fight for liberty. This rhetorical questioning points to the underlying racism that devalues the struggles and voices of non-Western peoples, insinuating that Gandhi's call for freedom is somehow less valid or inspiring because of his racial and cultural identity.

Cullen contrasts Gandhi's struggle for Indian independence with the American fight for liberty, noting the irony that the same words ("Give me liberty or give me death!") that once rallied Americans to revolution are met with indifference when uttered by an Indian leader. The poem highlights the contradiction of championing freedom while simultaneously denying it to others based on racial or cultural differences.

The final lines of the poem underscore this hypocrisy, questioning why "men who claim they fight for liberty / Can hear this battle-shout impassively," yet are moved to action when the same call is made in English. Cullen's critique extends beyond the specific context of Gandhi's struggle against British colonialism, implicating broader attitudes of racial superiority and the selective championing of freedom.

"Karenga Ya Marenga" is a poignant reminder of the universal value of liberty and the need to recognize and support the fight for freedom, irrespective of racial, cultural, or linguistic differences. Through this poem, Cullen challenges readers to examine their own biases and to embrace a more inclusive and equitable understanding of freedom and human rights.

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