Alain Locke said in his foreword to the New Negro (1925) America seeking a new spiritual expansion and artistic maturity, trying to find an American literature, a natural art, and natural music implies a Negro-American culture seeking the same satisfactions and objectives. African Americans found art as a new way to express themselves, what they wanted and needed in life. It was considered an “unusual outburst of creative expression” (Ferguson, 88) Some New Negroes such as A. Philip Randolph and chandler Owen believed the New Negro should have a working-class unity amongst the racial lines. They wanted collective ownership of factories and black socialism. Their plans never really succeeded as a whole; however, Marcus Garvey had a big impact during this time.
Eisenhower passed the Civil rights Act of 1957, Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and there were others which showed African Americans that progress was being made. The Presidents clearly initiated a change in America making sure de jure became de facto. However, there were many flaws in the work of the Federal Government and there were other factors which changed the status for African Americans such as the impact of the Second World War and the actions of the NAACP. President Harry Truman (1945-1953), established a liberal civil rights committee to investigate the violence against blacks. A report was produced called “To Secure These Rights” which underlined the problems that African Americans faced during this period.
How significant was the role of individuals in improving the position of African Americans in society from 1877-1945? To a large extent the role of individuals was significant in improving the position of African Americans in society from 1877-1945. However it has been argued that the organisations and increasing support from the federal government is the reason behind the real change. Although it would have appeared that way, the real change lay behind the individuals, such as A. Phillip Randolph, Du Bois and Marcus Garvey, who established groups to go forth and question the current status quo. Similarly to the first all-black trade community in which Randolph established, due to the fact they knew their voices would not be heard.
Harlem Renaissance: Outburst of Creativity The Harlem Renaissance was an artistic movement in American history wherein the uniqueness and creativity of African American culture was celebrated. Situated in the black community in uptown New York, the Harlem Renaissance developed a body of artistic talent which had never been seen in America (Ferguson, 24). Instead of wallowing in self-pity, African Americans ignited an explosion of culturist pride. They asserted themselves by embracing their racial identity, appreciating their heritage. Harlem became home to black people, many of whom had dreams and aspirations of expressing their individual artistic talents.
However, numerous African-American figures view many different roads to freedom, each having contested for dominance within the black community throughout black history. Two of these ideologies, Black Nationalism and Black Conservatism, are examples of these roads that, despite sharing the idea of black empowerment, contrast greatly on other ideas such as racial integration. The political ideology of Black Conservatism focuses on African-American advancement through self-reliance. This idea of self-reliability suggests the belief that African-Americans are solely responsible for their success and, thus, contrasts with other Black ideologies that believe in extra assistance as compensation for historical oppression. Notable black politicians who follow these ideologies are Booker T. Washington and, more recently, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Rita Mosheshvili Professor Darcy December 2nd, 2010 Comparative Essay on “Double Consciousness” and “Harlem Dancer.” In the “Double Consciousness’”essay by Dubois and the “Harlem Dancer” by McKay, both authors are concerned with the issue of freedom and equality of African-Americans in America. While Dubois’s use of the idea of double consciousness’ is to characterize issues of race in America and how they were perceived by the rest of America , the McKay focuses on both gender and race by depicting some of the effects that an emerging media culture has had on among African American women in 1922. Dubois described the contradiction between the social values and daily struggles faced by blacks in the United States. Being black, Dubois argued, meant being deprived of a “true self‐consciousness” and blacks often perceived themselves through the generalized contempt of white America. They only wished to be excepted in American culture and not to change it.
The production of race and racism in the American context was shaped by several events during the 19th and 20th centuries. The definition of race shifted from excluding skin color to being its primary factor in its new construction. Race and racism in the American context was invented as a response through political struggles and disputes. In, Love & Theft Blackface Minstrelsy and the American Working Class, Lott explains how blackface minstrelsy was a popular means of entertainment in America in the mid 19th century. Blackface minstrelsy was an event during the mid 19th century that helped produce race and racism relating it to skin color.
“The Souls of Black Folk” Review Written by the popular civil rights activist W.E.B Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk is a series of essays and sketches that proposes the "the problem of the Twentieth Century as the problem of the color-line” and describes “double consciousness”, that is, seeing oneself not only through his or her own eyes but from the perspective of others as well. Throughout the writing, Du Bois is constantly addressing the progression of blacks since the abolishment of slavery, the future of blacks, and the obstacles that must be overcome in order to obtain that future. When compared to the lives of other African Americans during this time period, Du Bois had an advantage in that he was born in the free northern community of Great Barrington, Massachusetts in 1868, where he was treated as an equal and encouraged to pursue his intellectual interests. As a result, he was able to achieve a high level of education, this being a doctorate at Harvard College, which he was was the first African American to receive. His experience with academic studies led him to believe that he could use his knowledge to empower African Americans, and in 1897, he became a professor of history, sociology, and economics at Atlanta University.
Political Socialization of African Americans in the United States Diamond Cash Marygrove College American government and politics has been a very influential factor in the common spotlight of American culture. The foundation that built this country implemented universal freedoms for its citizens to practice their democratic beliefs and be a key participant in the political dynamics of this country. Historically, black Americans were not allowed to participate in the early developments of politics (which led to the remarkable change due to the Civil Rights Era). However, in many ways African Americans participated in politics based by their agents of political socialization. Political socialization is the process by which individuals acquire basic beliefs, values, attitudes, and views about politics (Ivory, 2012).
Darius Henry Black Experience in Latin America Sawyer/ TA: Florence 7 December 2012 Final Exam 1. There are plenty of ways to define Black Politics in general. One is when many people who considered themselves Black in that country join together and form an organization where they can fight for the equal rights that their white and Moreno counterparts have. These organizations are so that these people can have an identity and they can feel proud of themselves, their heritage, their culture, etc. In this course and in the readings, we’ve talked about Black Politics in Latin America.