"If We Must Die" is a powerful poem written by Jamaican-American poet Claude McKay during the Harlem Renaissance in 1919. The poem was inspired by the violent race riots that were occurring in the United States at the time, where African Americans were being targeted and killed.

The poem speaks of strength, courage, and resilience in the face of adversity and oppression. It calls for unity and resistance in the face of violence and persecution, urging African Americans to fight back rather than passively accept their fate. The poem became a rallying cry for the African American community during a time of intense racial tension and violence.

McKay's "If We Must Die" remains a significant work in Black history, symbolizing the struggle for justice, equality, and self-determination in the face of systemic racism and violence.