Settling in Charlotte, Memphis, or even Atlanta may have had its rewards and satisfactions, but no Southern city could immerse a migrant in the teeming, vital, culturally rich world he or she would have found in Chicago, Detroit, or, supremely, in Harlem. "Here in Manhattan," wrote Alain Locke, "is not merely the largest Negro community in the world, but the first concentration in history of so many diverse elements of Negro life." He catalogues those elements with Whitmanesque enthusiasm: Harlem brought together "the African, the West Indian, the Negro American, . . . the Negro of the North and the Negro of the South; the man from the city and the man from the town and the village; the peasant, the student, the business man, the professional man, artist, poet, musician, adventurer and worker, preacher and criminal, exploiter and social outcast." When all these people gathered in Harlem, they not only encountered each other, they also encountered the modern world, and from that encounter a new consciousness was born. "In the very process of being transplanted," Locke wrote, "the Negro is becoming transformed."
Alain Locke (1886-1954) was born and raised in Philadelphia. He graduated from
Harvard and continued his studies in Europe as the first African American
Rhodes Scholar. After teaching English at Howard University for four years, he
returned to Harvard in 1916 to begin work on a Ph.D. in philosophy, which he
obtained in 1918. He rejoined the Howard faculty and taught there until his
retirement in 1953. In 1925 he edited a special edition of the magazine
Survey
Graphic, devoted exclusively to the life of Harlem. He later expanded it
into an anthology,
The New Negro, which became the manifesto of the
Harlem Renaissance, or as some critics prefer to call it, the New Negro
Movement. In the essay provided here Locke captures the hope and optimism of a
people who have discovered "a new vision of opportunity." (6 pages.)
What lines from "Enter
the New Negro" inspire "race pride?" According to Locke what is
the difference between the "Old Negro" and the "New Negro?"
USE SHORT QUOTES FROM THE TEXT (LINES AND PHRASES) to illustrate your point.
18 comments:
I think that the quote, "from the sense of social debt to the responsibilities of social contribution," inspires race pride because Locke is saying that instead of being a burden on society, or even being ridiculed, dehumanized, and undervalued, blacks were starting to get the chance to prove that they were worthy to improve and contribute to society.
According to Locke, the "Old Negro" was "a something to be argued about, condemned or defended, to be 'kept down,' or 'in his place,' or 'helped up,' to be worried with or worried over, harassed or patronized, a social bogey or a social burden" The "Old Negro" was never really a part of society, but rather something that held society down. The "New Negro" had transformed into something to be proud of: "The day of 'aunties,'
'uncles' and 'mammies' is equally gone" The blacks of the present were proving themselves equal to the whites, proving that they, too, had something to offer to society. "The Negro today wishes to be known for what he is, even in
his faults and shortcomings."
I think that the quote "By shedding the old chrysalis of the Negro we are achieving something like spiritual emancipation" evokes race pride because it implies that by evolving as a race in a cultural manner , we become a people that if free of spiritual oppression. We become alive in a sense that displays who we really are not who we're told to be or who we're told to teach each other to be. We display the idea of co-existence as what life from here on out would be not as a hopeful idea or wish. Blacks discard apathy and resentment and replace it with mutual attitude and understanding of whites and begin to think of themselves as equal. Locke mentions that the "thinking Negro" contributes to the formula of dependence as well, that he is taught to worry solely about defending or condemning being kept down or being held up; he is given the mindset that blacks, as a whole, are a social burden and that they must rid one another of that idea.
I completely agree with Cassidy. The line "from the sense of social debt to the responsibilities of social contribution" suggest race pride. Here in this quote Locke is saying that blacks are no longer in debt to society. They are no longer "burdens" as Cassidy said. Instead they now have a responsibility to contribute socially and economically. Locke is suggesting race pride he is saying that this contribution is an achievement, a sign of progressing, something to be proud of.
In the words of Locke "The new negro is keenly responsive as an augury of a new democracy in American culture. In this quote Locke is sating that new Negros are the definition of what democracy will look like in the future. "The old Negros.... was a creature of moral debate and historical controversy." This quote suggest the old Negros wasn't appart of society instead something to talk about,critisize and put down. The deference between the old Negros and the new Negros is that the new Negros are apart of society and a rave to be proud of and the old Negros weren't apart of society, a burden and critisized.
The line "For the younger generation is vibrant with a new psychology; the new spirit is awake in the masses, and under the very eyes of the professional observers is transforming what has been a perennial problem into the progressive phases of contemporary Negro life." is showing race ride because , he's saying that new perception of the negro is here . And will be acknowledged professionally and throught the eyes of everyone in general changing from what was a "social problem" to a race of progress and pride. "in the life- attitudes and self-expression of the Young Negro, in his poetry, his art, his education and his new outlook, with the additional advantage, of course, of the poise and greater certainty of knowing what it is all about. From this comes the promise and warrant of a new leadership" shows the new negro ways of thinking and advantage to the older negro. In addition this quote also shows race pride because of the advancement in the art young negros protrude . And most important the certainty and leadership the negro race has to offer." So for generations in the mind of America, the Negro has been more of a formula than a human being, a something to be argued about, condemned or defended, to be “kept down,” or “in his place,” or “helped up,” is the view of the old negro in which America has looked upon as inferior or something that is used as not human more so research pertaining to the word "formula". According to the new negro , there is no "kept place" for them. They are to be looked at more than just the stereotypes that appealed the Americans in the first place . The new negro has a completely different way of "negro thinking " and will use it to progress in America as their own group.
I agree with Amirah quote that "... shedding the old chrysalis of the Negro we are achieving something like spiritual emancipation.." shows race pride because it shows that upcoming of 'new negro' generation would destroy the perception of Negros. That African American will to rise and show that as a people how exceptionally brilliant they are.
The difference between the 'old negro' and the 'new negro' is that 'old negro' is insufficient to survive in the american society and the 'new negro' is. The 'old negro' is continues to be victimized by the white and are sought out to be incapable to function without the help of a whites. Where as 'new negro' finds his own strength and makes himself present in the american society. For example,"...the white man has erred
in making the Negro appear to be that which would excuse or extenuate his treatment of him, the Negro, in turn, has too often unnecessarily excused himself because of the way he has been treated. The intelligent Negro of today is resolved not to make discrimination an extenuation for his shortcomings in performance, individual or collective; he is trying to hold himself at par, neither inflated by sentimental
allowances nor depreciated by current social discounts."
I think that the quote " from the sense of social debt to the responsibilities of social contribution, " inspire " race pride " like Cassidy say. What Locke is trying to say is that Blacks are no longer being troublesome to the society but they have the responsibility to help contribute to the society. Locke is trying to prove that blacks were starting to be worthy to help take part to improve the society.
The difference between " Old Negro " and " New Negro " according to Locke is that the " Old Negro " was " a creature of moral debate and historical controversy. " What Locke is trying to say is that " Old Negro " is a burden to society.
"the popular melodrama has about played itself out, and it is time to scrap the fictions, garret the bogeys and settle down to a realistic facing of facts" this line inspires racial pride because Locke is stating that the times of discrimination and the belittlement of Negroes is now the past and it is time to face reality and the fact that the Negroes are indeed people. According to Locke the difference between the "old negro" and the "new negro" is that the new negro have a mind to think for himself as to the old negro who did not have a decision or self understanding of himself."His shadow, so to speak, has been more real to him than his
personality". The author is saying that the old Negroes shadow which was almost invisible was more real to him than his own self."So for generations in the
mind of America, the Negro has been more of a formula than a human being ⎯ a something to be argued
about, condemned or defended, to be “kept down,” or “in his place,” or “helped up,”. This quote describes hot the old negro was spoken for they had no say so they had to do what they were commanded to do. In difference, the new negro have a mind of their own,"The intelligent Negro of today is resolved not to make discrimination an extenuation for his shortcomings in
performance, individual or collective; he is trying to hold himself at par.... For this he must know himself and be known for
precisely what he is, and for that reason he welcomes the new scientific rather than the old sentimental
interest". This quote explains that the new negro knows what he is capable of and does not let any discrimination let him think otherwise or negatively. The new negro is self-conscious and holds himself as equal to the white men.
I think that the quote "even more than any “most creditable record of fifty years of freedom,” requires that the Negro of today be seen through other than the dusty spectacles of past controversy" inspires "race pride" because it is saying that the Negro of today is not the same as the "old negro" and it shows that they are proud of themselves.In the words of Locke "it is becoming with every day less possible, more unjust and more ridiculous".
According to Locke, the Old Negro was "a creature of moral debate and historical controversy".I agree when Tamia says that his quote shows how the 'Old Negro' was just being put down and criticized.Locke mentions that the New Negro "is keenly responsive as an augury of a new democracy in American culture. He is contributing his share to the new social understanding"
"Recall how suddenly the Begro spirituals revealed themselves; suppressed for generations under the stereotypes of Wesleyan hymn harmony, secretive, half-ashamed, until the courage of being natural brought them out-and behold there was folk music." From this quote I vathered two things that inspired race pride: the urge to create and to have their iwn spiritual rituals. Blacks it seems felt that as long as they were continuing to use evrything white people made not creating anything for themselves to use, they were still being suppressed. And they didn't want to keep abiding to the white man's spiritual outlet-they wanted to express thenselves differentky and so racial pride was birn along with the other reason Cassidy and Tamia have said which I titally agree with. And it goes along with Booker T. Washington's philosophy of self sufficient.
From this passage, there were lots of race pride examples displayed. For example, "With this new self-respect and self-dependence..." (Locke, 1) This quote shows how blacks were proud of their race because they respected it and each other and they depended on each other for support. Also, "Without them [blacks] there would be more pressure and danger than there is." (Locke, 5) This shows how blacks are needed to balance the world out evenly.
According to Locke, the Old Negro was "a creature of moral debate and historical controversy" and the New Negro "is keenly responsive as an augury of a new democracy in American culture."
I saw two quotes that inspires race pride. "He simply cannot be swathed in their formulae" and "Subtly the conditions that are moulding a New Negro are moulding a new American attitude less than a minute ago". What Locke is trying to get at is the Negro cannot be wrapped around their science because each Negro man is different. I also believe he is saying that what the Negros are going through in the society also makes society. How they deal with all the issues they go through, that's what molds society into one piece.
"The Old Negro, we must remember, was a creature of moral debate and historical controversy." The old negro was the 'talk of the town' but not in a good way. The old negro was the reason for the heated public debates whereas the new negro is the future.
Also the old negro was a troubles human; not only to other but to themselves too. "Until recently, lacking self-understanding, we have been almost as much of a problem to ourselves as we still are to others." The old negro were not presented in a positive way; rather, the negro was 'shot down' or in other words, were presented negatively, even to themselves. The old Negro didn't have the chance to think about what they wanted but only think about what others wanted. Now the new negro has time to think about both.
Alain Locke says a lot about how black people and black communities are changing; they are becoming an influential part of America. He says on page 2, "The day of 'aunties,' 'uncles,' and 'mammies' is equally gone. Uncle Tom and Sambo have passed on..." He later talks about Harlem and the achievements that are being made there by black people: "That the Negro has already made very substantial contributions, not only in his folk-art, music especially, which has always found appreciation, but in larger, though humbler and less acknowledged ways...He now becomes a conscious contributor and lays aside the status of a beneficiary and ward for that of a collaborator and participant in American civilization."
Locke says that one of the biggest changes for the New Negro is that he is becoming more than just a "social problem." On page 1, he says,"For generations in the mind of America, the Negro has been more of a formula than a human being- a something to be argued about, condemned or defended, to be 'kept down,' or 'in his place,' or 'helped up,' to be worried with or worried over, harassed or patronized, a social bogey or a social burden." But he says that society now has a "challenging in their laps," because the New Negro "simply cannot be swathed in their formulae." He is being viewed as a man...my favorite line is when Locke pointed out that in "art and letters, instead of being wholly caricatured, he is being seriously portrayed and painted."
""For the younger generation is vibrant with a new psychology; the new spirit is awake in the masses, and under the very eyes of the professional observers is transforming what has been a perennial problem into the progressive phases of contemporary Negro life.". This to me, inspires race pride. This quote praises the black race and emphasize not only the progress the black race has made but the progress it has yet to make.According to Locke the old negro "was was a creature of moral debate and historical controversy."and the new negro " keenly responsive as an augury of a new democracy in American culture". In other words the new negro is a more civilized, cultured, and more or less "human" version of the old negro.
I agree with Cassidy, the quote "from the sense of social debt to the responsibilities of social contribution," inspires race pride because Locke is saying that Blacks are not in social debt anymore. Now they have the responsibilites of contributing socially and economically like Tamia said. Locke is basically saying that this contribution is an achievement that Blacks are no longer in "social debt" and thats something their race is proud of.
According to Locke, the "Old Negro" was a "creation of moral debate and historical controversy." The Old Negro was something to be argued about, condemned or defended, to be 'kept down,' or 'in his place,' or 'helped up,' to be worried with or worried over, harassed or patronized, a social bogey or a social burden. The Old Negro was never a part of society instead something that 'kept down' society. The "New Negro" is "keenly responsive as an augury of a new Democracy in American Culture. They were a part of the society.
I agree with Cassidy and Chelsea that the quote "from the sense of social debt to the responsibilities of social contribution explains the many different thoughts of race and pride .
However Lock uses many different reasons and examples to explain his thought and opinions of how blacks had there chance to stand up for what is right and to strive for an higher achievement . Many blacks where to be lifted up and was transformed into being glad of what they were able to being equal .
A quote that was inspired by race pride was "is not merely the largest Negro community in the world, but the first concentration in history of so many diverse elements of Negro life." The reason why is because he is saying that not just negro in one large city but then working together as a family.
The differents between the old negro and the new negro is that the old negro fought for what they believe in and had ambition to do it. But now with the new negro it's like, now that they got what the wanted they don't care about fighting to change thing but just blend with the crowd as best they can so in there mind they are equal but really their not
This qoute "the Negro today wishes to be known for what he is, even in his faults and shortcomings, and scorns a craven and precarious survival at the price of seeming to be what he is not" inspire race pride because once they know who they are and appricate the who they gave them pride. Also knowing all the fault that their race went through and surviving it should give you pride to your race because that take a lot of courage to still put up with all that have happen.
The different between the old negro and the new negro is that the old negro work hard on what they believe would help them while the new negro would change most things that the old negro fought for or change for themself and the future generation.
The quote that stood out to me most was "Subtly the conditions that are moulding a New Negro are moulding a new American attitude less than a minute ago" because Locke says that society could never be the way it is without every race in this case the New negro being involved. Throughout the article he states that the new negros have grown and have made society equal thanks to the old negros who were held back and fighting for that equality. A new culture came about.
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