Final answer:
The "life-long hate" the speaker bears in Claude McKay's poem "The White City" is towards the deep-seated racial prejudice and institutional racism experienced by black individuals. The speaker's resentments stem from personal and collective struggles against a society that perpetuates racial inequality and marginalization.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Claude McKay's poem "The White City," the speaker carries a "life-long hate," which is indicative of a deep and abiding resentment and animosity towards the systemic racial prejudice and injustice experienced by people of color, particularly black people. This hate stems from a history of racism that has denied equal opportunities and subjected individuals to dehumanization and marginalization. The speaker's struggle is not just personal, but representative of the collective struggle against the broader social and structural barriers that maintain racial inequality.
The references in the passages suggest a recognition of the chasm between the races and the emotional and psychological toll it takes on those who endure it. The hatred mentioned is partly directed at the discriminatory societal structures and the personal slights, as well as the institutional racism that pervades the speaker's existence. The speaker, like others described in the passages, is looking for ways to break out of the imposed limitations, whether through education, healing, or storytelling, despite the ever-present weight of racial discrimination.
Furthermore, the acknowledgment of a 'strange prejudice' reflects both a personal and collective despair and a resilience in the face of widespread disdain for everything associated with black identity. While the struggle includes moments of resistance and ambition to overcome the barriers imposed by race, there is also a sense of deep-seated frustration and fatigue from the ongoing battle for recognition, respect, and freedom from racist oppression.