Claude McKayClaude McKay was one of the most influential figures in twentieth-century African-American literature. He was known throughout the world, from the West Indies to the United States, from Africa to his hometown, Jamaica. When mentioning controversial writers, Claude McKay comes to mind. He was the first of many African American writers who would become famous for expressing their opinion through literature in the early 1900s. He also used his gift of creativity with words to express his feelings on various issues such as politics, human rights and racism. (African American Writers, 305) Claude McKay, whose real name is Festus Claudius McKay, was born on September 15 in the year 1890. He was born on the family farm in Sunny Ville, located in the mountainous center of the upper parish of Clarendon in Jamaica. Of the eleven children conceived by Thomas Francis McKay (father) and Hannah Ann Elizabeth Edwards (mother), Claude was the youngest. Thomas and Hannah managed to successfully send all the children to school, including Claude until the age of seven, when he was sent to stay with his older brother U'Theo. “U’Theo became a well-known farmer, businessman and civic leader throughout Jamaica.” (African American Writers, 307) U'Theo was just beginning his career as a school teacher when a young Claude began his stay with him. Claude received education from his older brother until the age of fourteen. This worked to Claude's advantage because his brother had graduated from Mico Teachers College in Kingston. Claude began to read a lot and at the age of ten began to write poetry. He then entered a vocational school in 1906 but was forced to return home when the school he had attended was destroyed by an earthquake. (www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/m_r/mckay/life.htm) Shortly after returning from vocational school, Claude served in the island's police force where he heard many complaints from the island's black farmers about earning to experience in and around Kingston..