In 1899, Rudyard Kipling wrote “The White Man’s Burden.” Originally subtitled with “The United States and the Philippine Islands,” Kipling wrote this poem after the Spanish-American War, during which the United States acquired the Philippines from Spain. This poem sparked considerable controversy when it was written, including H.T. Johnson’s response—a poem called “The Black Man’s Burden,” because of its claim that the duty of white men was now to go to the Philippines in order to “civilize” the island’s people. This poem is for grade 10 students. As you read, take notes on how Kipling might have come to his opinion on the Philippines, and how he justified this stance. This poem can be found in the public domain.
