In “The White Man's Burden,” Rudyard Kipling states that it is the duty or burden of white men to civilize non-whites, to educate them and to raise them religiously (lecture notes, 2/8). Kipling speaks specifically of colonized non-whites (lecture notes, 2/8). The idea that newly colonized non-whites lacked support and needed help from a larger society was common among white Americans during this era (lecture notes, 2/8). Rudyard used the white public's feelings towards this issue and wrote "The White Man's Burden" in an attempt to inspire white people to help non-white people, as he believed it was a very beneficial to the United States. Rudyard wanted this poem to be a shocking poem. and informative encouragement for white people to take responsibility for saving the non-white civilizations for which they have now taken responsibility. In “The White Man's Burden,” Rudyard asserts that whites are obligated to help non-whites out of religious duty and for their own good (Rudyard). In the last stanza, Rudyard also explains that non-whites have suffered greatly from white imperialism (Rudyard). Although he explains the grievances of non-whites, Rudyard does not really seem to sympathize with non-whites. On the contrary, he seems to have very little affection for them and says that they are incapable of taking care of themselves. By the time Rudyard published “The White Man's Burden,” whites were already conflicted over what to do about non-whites (US, 437). Some whites have argued that there should be little or no white intervention in non-white societies because Charles Darwin's theory of "survival of the fittest" is the way things should be (U.S. , 437). Whites in favor of intervention asserted that it was their human and religious duty to get involved (US, 437). They also exclaimed that it was better to help non-whites develop because of the need for trade (US, 437). Because there had already been such debate among whites on this issue, Rudyard's poem quickly attracted attention (lecture notes, 2/8). Rudyard's work attracted the attention of American leaders and became a source of inspiration for the future actions of imperialism (lecture notes, 2/8). Rudyard's poem seems to have gained much popularity due to its nationalist tone. In the poem he basically says that to be respected as one of the greatest nations, America must do charitable work and help some of the less fortunate (Rudyard).