Claude McKay

Born in Jamaica, Claude McKay, a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance, wrote poetry and novels that captivated and occasionally scandalized. He wasn't Jewish, but his fierce dedication to socialist ideals and racial equality certainly aligned with a certain kvell-worthy, albeit secular, prophetic tradition.

McKay's most famous poem, "If We Must Die," became a rallying cry for resistance against oppression. While not penned with Jewish suffering in mind, it resonated deeply with many who understood systemic persecution.

His travels took him far and wide, including a stint in the Soviet Union, where he hobnobbed with Bolsheviks. Later in life, he found solace in Catholicism, proving that while he might have embraced a new faith, he never quite lost his knack for finding unexpected places to park his intellectual and spiritual aspirations.