Option #1: The White Man’s Burden
During the debates surrounding the annexation of the Philippines, Rudyard Kipling, a British author, published a poem urging the United States to take up the burden of empire by annexing the Philippines and extending the blessings of “civilization” to these islands. However, when he published his poem, both supporters and opponents of Philippine annexation were able to point to specific lines in the poem to justify their point of view. In addition, numerous opponents of annexation wrote parodies of the poem to raise questions about the benefits of “civilization.” For example, one African America clergyman wrote a poem called “The Black Man’s Burden” to refute Kipling.” (https://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5476/) Even today, there are debates about Kipling’s poem and its meaning. There are interpretations that cast it as a racist, culturally insensitive defense of empire. Simultaneously, there are readers who view it as a critical view of empire, one that encouraged empire while still acknowledging its cost and its downside.
Instructions:
Read Kipling’s poem for yourself, you can find it linked here, (Links to an external site.) https://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/poem/poems_burden.htm
Find at least one example of how this poem could justify the creation of an American empire overseas.
In addition, locate at least one specific example of how the poem raises questions about United States empire.
in light of these two conflicting messages, do you think the poem was more of an imperialist piece or was it more of an anti-imperialist warning against the creation of an overseas empire? Explain your choice with evidence from the poem, not what outside sources tell you.
In your journal of at least 300 words be sure to focus on the questions above. I am not interested in seeing facts you looked up on Wikipedia or some site about the poem or its author. This poem does tend to be one of the more confusing readings of the semester so, if it is difficult, that is alright.
