"If We Must Die" is a poem written by the renowned Jamaican-American poet Claude McKay. Published in 1919, the poem was a response to the widespread racial violence and discrimination that African Americans were experiencing at the time.

The poem is a call to resistance and defiance in the face of oppression, urging Black people to stand up and fight for their rights and dignity, even if it means facing death. It became a powerful rallying cry for the civil rights movement and continues to be a symbol of Black resilience and strength.

McKay's stirring words in "If We Must Die" have inspired generations of activists and continue to be relevant in the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equality. The poem's themes of courage, solidarity, and perseverance resonate with the experiences of Black people facing systemic racism and oppression throughout history.