McKay in such a racial and social climate "reacted tothe state of affairs with anger, and he channeled his anger into adecisive rebellion against the social system which supported suchinjustices.' (7) For example, "Hard Times' containsan accumulation of the economic barricades placed in thepeasant's way: "de taxes knocking," "thesick wife, the hungry
picknies," and the shabby clothes."Whe fe do" is also a protest in the sense that it is acalculated defiance against the social condition and a gutsy will tostand up and live," withouten cry, nor yet complain.""Out of dept" ia a lucid picture of the numbing sense ofpoverty , the folk experience during the Christmas season.