The Harlem Dancer

by Claude McKay

Claude McKay - "The Harlem Dancer" was originally printed in Claude McKay's book Harlem Shadows which was a collection of poems 'Harlem Shadows" and "The Harlem Dancer" being McKay's most famous. Harlem Shadows was published in 1922 by Harcourt, Brace and Company NYC N.Y.

Genres: Poetry

Audiobook

First published January 1, 1922

About the author

Jamaican-born American writer Claude McKay figured prominently in the Harlem renaissance of the 1920s; his works include collections of poetry, such as Constab Ballads (1912), and novels, including Home to Harlem (1928).

Home to Harlem, a best-seller, won Festus Claudius McKay, a poet and a seminal figure, the Harmon gold award for literature.
He also wrote novels Banjo and Banana Bottom . People not yet published his manuscript, called Amiable with Big Teeth: A Novel of the Love Affair between the Communists and the Poor Black Sheep of Harlem , of 1941.
McKay also authored collections of poetry, a collection of short stories, Gingertown . He authored two autobiographical books, A Long Way from Home and My Green Hills of Jamaica , published posthumously. He entitled a non-fiction, socio-historical treatise Harlem: Negro Metropolis . People published his poetry collection, Harlem Shadows , in 1922 among the first books during the Harlem renaissance. Survivors published his Selected Poems posthumously in 1953.

Reviews

[violet ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Applauding youths laughed with young prostitutes
And watched her perfect, half-clothed body sway;
Her voice was like the sound of blended flutes
Blown by black players upon a picnic day.
She sang and danced on gracefully and calm,
The light gauze hanging loose about her form;
To me she seemed a proudly-swaying palm
Grown lovelier for passing through a storm.
Upon her swarthy neck black shiny curls
Luxuriant fell; and tossing coins in praise,
The wine-flushed, bold-eyed boys, and even the girls,
Devoured her shape with eager, passionate gaze;
But looking at her falsely-smiling face,
I knew her self was not in that strange place.”

[Scott Raphael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very simple and short poem, but one that paints a scene with clarity on top of having excellent structural rhythm. You can see the scene playing out before you, almost feeling like you’re there. And it’s just the right length to make you feel without getting distracted. The ending is a nice twist, a moment of humanity underscoring an otherwise visceral, physical piece of work, a reminder that things are not necessarily as they seem.

[bymishie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short poem driven by imagery. McKay vividly paints the scene out to which I can easily see in my mind's eye. You feel as if you're in a trance... the ending was the perfect 'pop to my bubble' that woke me up.

*A reread from my Lit Crit class

[amy! · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️