Question

How does H.T. Johnson use sarcasm in his poem "the black man's burden"

Answer 1

“The Black Man’s Burden” was written by H. T. Johnson two months after “The White Man’s Burden” was published. Johnson obviously feels that the Eroupeans are overly violent and are seeking to take over the world as is obvious in the line, “In vain ye seek to end it /With bullets, blood or death.” He seems to think that the black man’s burden is to have to deal with the Europeans as they try to conquer them. This poem takes a very negative view on imperialism.

Answer 2

The poem's title is a direct reference to Kipling's poem, but the content mocks Kipling's ideas.