Harlem Renaissance And The Idea Of The New Negro
Harlem Renaissance is described as “cultural flowering” as it instituted and consisted of the Negro American, West Indian, and the African. It brought together the blacks who were in search of better opportunities. Harlem was, not only in Manhattan, the largest Negro community with diverse aspects of culture. It composition included the poet, musician, professionals, criminals, artists, exploiters among other Negros from both the South and the North who had different motivations. The groups' sole aim was to find one another. They purposely wanted a “common area of contact and interaction.” Regardless of where they come from, the Harlem desire was to develop and build one another. As such, it was a Negro community with diverse culture but faced a common condition of historical proscription. The Harlem Renaissance is widely connected to the Great Migration. Just like the Great Migration, the Harlem eventually resulted in the relocation of great masses of Negros from the South through self-determination. The migrants wanted to establish a good living as they could not afford it in the South. In similarity with Great Migrations such as the Prague in New Czechoslovakia and Dublin in New Ireland, the Harlem Renaissance played a role of changing the Negro’s social and economic conditions.
A New Negro is a black from the South, Central, West Indies, Africa or America who is ready to do whatever it takes to better their social, political, or economic conditions. According to Locke, the New Negro does not take racial discrimination as a tool of his shortcomings. Unlike the Old Negro who could not resist social oppression by the Whites, the New Negro is significantly contributing to his social understanding. He is developing based on his own objectives. Regardless of his shortcomings and faults, the New Negro wants recognition for what he does. On the other hand, Garvey views a New Negro as one who has a common interest in ending the divide brought to him for over three hundred years. The New Negro embraces racial commonness through political, social and economic bondage and peonage. As such, he should not capitalize on propaganda but work towards the betterment of humanity.
Locke’s idea of where African-Americans should be a society full of strong social and democratic power. This idea helps the Negros to realize its achievements as well as shortcomings. As such, the American Negro sole purpose should be to develop Africa through constructive group incentives and participation. On the other hand, Garvey believes that the African-American should be determined to redeem Africa as it will bring peace and satisfaction to the entire Negro race (1924). As such, they should remove all barriers that obstruct their liberty.
Works Cited
- Gates, Henry Louis, and Nellie Y. McKay. 'The Norton Anthology of African American literature.' (1997).
