In Claude McKay's poem "Africa," who or what is the harlot? Why does McKay use this word?

Question

I am taking a course on American lit, and I am absolutely stumped by this question. I'd really appreciate it! :)

The poem is here: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/africa/

Answer 1

The nation that the poem is about (Egypt I would think) is the "harlot".

He used this word because in his eyes that nation bascally whored its self out for fame, power, glory, etc., and lost its moral values.

Edit - Harlot means prostitute btw.