McKay's "Outsider" Theme Claude McKay was an important figure during the 1920's in the Harlem Rennaisance. Primarily a poet, McKay used the point of view of the outsider as a prevalent theme in his works. This is best observed in such poems as "Outcast," "America," and "The White House." In these poems, McKay portrays the African-American as the outsiderof western society and its politics and laws and at times, the very land that he is …showed first 75 words of 754 total…

…showed last 75 words of 754 total…works. The poems "Outcast,""America," and 'The White House" all display the similiar aspects of being the outsider. Every work contains the voice of alienation throughout. By using this point of view, McKay makes very clear the position that Africans were placed in by the western society that they were forced into. The works seem to all work toward the social goal of making America a place where there are no outsiders but only Americans,