Identity. A word that defines our whole being as humans. Psychoanalytics in the likes of Sigmund Freud and Erik H. Erikson have asked themselves this very question, what is identity and how does it affect us as humans? Whilst identity has been beneficial for certain groups on earth, this hasn’t been the case for African Americans in the 19th and 20th century, as the trail-blazing cultural theorist Stuart Hall, in his inimitable way disputes it in "Cultural Identity and Diaspora".
The identity of African Americans overall in the American Society has always been dictated by the majority society who were mostly white. The identity of African Americans was solely depicted in a negative light. With their new-found freedom, African Americans were bound to change the narrative of their thitherto identity, through their own efforts and making. Hence was born a literary movement, "Enter the New Negro" by the philosopher Alain Locke.
In this term paper, an attempt is being made with the help of the book "Enter the New Negro" by Alain Locke to find out if his writings were pivotal for shaping the identity of African Americans in the arts and in the media during the 1920s.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Biography of Alain Leroy Locke
3 The Harlem Renaissance and The New Negro
3.1 Development of the literary movement
3.2 Intent and ideas of the movement
4 Text Analysis “Enter the New Negro’’
4.1 The Old Negro
4.2 The New Negro
4.3 The legacy of Alain Locke’s “Enter the New Negro’’
5 Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines whether Alain Locke’s seminal work "Enter the New Negro" served as a pivotal force in shaping the identity of African Americans within the arts and media during the 1920s. It explores the transition from the restrictive "Old Negro" trope to the self-determined "New Negro" identity, analyzing the socio-historical conditions of the Harlem Renaissance.
- Historical biography and intellectual background of Alain Leroy Locke.
- The socio-cultural origins and development of the Harlem Renaissance.
- Textual analysis of the "Old Negro" versus the "New Negro" paradigm.
- The role of self-expression and self-determination in crafting Black identity.
- Impact and legacy of the New Negro movement on national and international consciousness.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1 The Old Negro
What did Alain Locke mean by the Old Negro? For some writers back then, due to his advanced age Alain Locke was probably seen as an Old Negro. In the perception of the white society “the Old Negro was a degrading trope that caricatured blacks as uncles, mammies, and chillum’ who dressed, talked, behaved, and thought in ways that lacked the kind of sophistication and refinement generally attributed to whites”38, utters Gene Andrew Jarrett, professor for African American history from the eighteenth century to the present. The perception of the old Negro was also manifested in the minds of African-Americans as Alain Locke stated “the thinking Negro even has been induced to share this same general attitude, to focus his attention on controversial issues, to see himself in the distorted perspective of a social problem”39. Alain Locke certainly did not see himself as an Old Negro. He rather viewed himself as a New Negro.
As Alain Locke stated on page three, “the Old Negro had long become more of a myth than a man. The Old Negro, we must remember, was a creature of moral debate and historical controversy’’40. Emphasis is to be lied upon myth, man and creature. The ideal stance in which a man was pictured in those days was not brought upon the BLACK man. Factually, the BLACK man was not perceived as a man but rather as a creature, a creature that could be debated about without him having a say in the matter. Alain Locke even goes further to paint the overall picture of what the Old Negro was mostly about, but also stating the fact that the dilemma in which the Old Negro was, wasn’t solely the fault of whites but the Old Negro was also accountable for his state. “The Negro himself has contributed his share to this through a sort of protective mimicry forced upon him by the adverse circumstances of dependence. So, for generations in the mind of America, the Negro has been more of a formula than a human being”41.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Introduces the concept of identity as a 'production' and sets the objective to determine if Alain Locke's work was central to shifting Black identity in the 1920s.
2 Biography of Alain Leroy Locke: Details Locke's life, education at Harvard and Oxford, and his experiences with racism and academia that shaped his later philosophy.
3 The Harlem Renaissance and The New Negro: Explores the societal conditions of Harlem and the Great Migration that fueled the literary movement.
3.1 Development of the literary movement: Discusses the emergence of the anthology and the desire for Black Americans to represent themselves rather than being defined by white narratives.
3.2 Intent and ideas of the movement: Analyzes the resistance against negative stereotypes and the necessity of self-determination.
4 Text Analysis “Enter the New Negro’’: Provides a close reading of Locke's primary text.
4.1 The Old Negro: Examines the caricature of the "Old Negro" and how it served as a myth rather than an accurate human representation.
4.2 The New Negro: Explores the ideal of the "New Negro" as a symbol of hope, elation, and the shedding of colonial psychologies.
4.3 The legacy of Alain Locke’s “Enter the New Negro’’: Discusses the mixed reception, including criticisms by W. E. B. DuBois, and the lasting impact on Black consciousness.
5 Conclusion: Concludes that while Locke's work was critical for the Black intelligentsia, it contributed to a broader, national shift in self-assertion.
Keywords
Alain Locke, New Negro, Harlem Renaissance, African-American Identity, Self-determination, Racial Consciousness, Great Migration, Literary Movement, Black Intelligentsia, Cultural Identity, Stereotypes, Diaspora, Social Change, Self-expression, Black History.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines whether Alain Locke's anthology "Enter the New Negro" was instrumental in reshaping African American identity during the 1920s.
Which historical context is essential for understanding this work?
The context involves the Great Migration, the impact of World War I on Black veterans, and the era of the Harlem Renaissance.
What is the central research question?
The research asks if Locke's writings were pivotal for shaping the identity of African Americans in arts and media by dismantling imposed stereotypes.
Which methodology is employed?
The paper uses a combination of biographical research and a textual analysis of Locke's "Enter the New Negro" alongside various critical secondary sources.
What is the difference between the "Old Negro" and "New Negro" as described in the text?
The "Old Negro" represents a subservient trope or myth created by white society, whereas the "New Negro" signifies an empowered individual defined by self-expression and racial pride.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
Key terms include Alain Locke, New Negro, Harlem Renaissance, self-determination, and cultural identity.
How does the author characterize Alain Locke's personal stance on education?
Locke is presented as a prime example of the transformative power of education, having graduated from Harvard and Oxford despite facing significant systemic racism.
How did W. E. B. DuBois criticize Locke's work?
DuBois argued that the anthology lacked unity and continuity, suggesting that "Beauty" rather than "Propaganda" should be the focus of Black literature.
What role did gender play in the movement according to the author?
The author highlights that the movement favored men and faced criticism for exclusionary practices against women, as noted by figures like Zora Neale Hurston.
Did the "New Negro" movement reach beyond Harlem?
Yes, the movement became a national phenomenon, with figures like Anne Spencer and Georgia Douglas Johnson helping to spread racial pride outside of New York.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Ayebatonyeseigha Christ (Autor:in), 2018, Alain Locke's "Enter the New Negro". Pivotal for a BLACK* identity in the 1920s?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/426045
