The New Negro term included “violent resistance to oppression and the conservative anti-protest orientation of Booker T. Washington.” (Ferguson, 3) Writers had a big influence on the community throughout newspapers, magazines, etc; and most writers believe d that the New Negro should exemplify creativity, independence, strength, power, equality, and improvement. Creativity was more so a huge part of the Harlem Renaissance all together but the New Negro was all a part of that. Being creative and artistic became more common in the African American community, and was more widely accepted. Black people were not as “shy” or “scared” to show their talent and artistic self expression. 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.
This Harlem Renaissance period began when a white playwright put complex and thoroughly human African-American characters into his plays. Soon, newspapers, magazines and art galleries opened up, and continued to flourish even into the Great Depression. The style of the Harlem Renaissance was characterized by a desire to re-represent the African-American people and to put to rest the white caricatures and degrading stereotypes prevalent in a racist society. After World War I, black visual artists began to develop styles related to African aesthetic traditions and folk art. This style was largely involved with the political stirrings of the day, which is unusual for an artistic movement.
Garvey’s significance in reducing racial discrimination in the short term is a debatable question and is highlighted by the rift of historical opinions. Garvey’s ideology and belief in racial pride and black nationalism made him different to other black leaders. This led to immediate support from the black community but also criticism from authorities and other civil rights leaders. On his arrival in 1916 Garvey gained immediate support which coincided with the death of Booker T. Washington. The death of Washington left a space for a new black leader which Garvey intended to fill.
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.
African Americans who did not believe in the Renaissance were seen as inhibitors to the advancement of African-American culture. Spread of Racism * Critics argue that the Harlem Renaissance helped to fuel racism against the rural and uneducated African Americans in the south. As African Americans mimicked white culture and tailored their musical, artistic and literary creations to favor white audiences, African Americans reinforced the idea that those who were not a part of the Renaissance were inferior.
The lack of unity in Africa served as a strong advantage, allowing Europeans to govern the land with only minor upheavals from these groups. Industrialization had set the stage in such a way, that the demand for raw materials and new markets grew immensely. Europeans were in need of raw materials to fuel their factories, and they also wanted to sell their goods to new people. This urged their search for new colonies. In their competition for colonies and trade, European nations grew a strong sense of national pride.
Even thought there was not much more opportunity in the North, at least there was racial tolerance, something the African Americans of the South were craving. When the Harlem Renaissance started, many prominent figures emerged from the myriad of writers, thinkers, artists, and musicians of the time. W.E.B Du Bois was an African American thinker and sociologist, who was very prominent in the Harlem Renaissance. He was at the forefront of the civil rights movement during this time and helped create the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) (“W.E.B Du Bois”). Another famous figure of the Harlem Renaissance was Langston Hughes.
It was under such circumstances, did the black leaders, the newly educated black intelligentsia brought the issues of the Afro Americans into public life. Booker T. Washington, WEB Du Bois, and Marcus Garvey were some of the most influential leaders during this period. While all three of them differed in their approach to Black upliftment, their aims were quite similar-economic empowerment, self help, raising consciousness of black pride and equal civil and political opportunities for the Negro race. Marcus Garvey was one of the most popular Black Nationalist leaders from Africa. He espoused a kind of racial nationalism in the heart of which lay his view of Africa, which he believed was meant to be redeemed by the Africans as it belonged to them.
In the 1950s and 1960s the "Beat Culture" challenged the status quo in ways that unified liberals and prompted change. In the same vein, the Hip Hop culture has challenged the system in ways that have unified individuals [particularly youth] across a rich ethnic spectrum (Reese 1). As a cultural movement, Hip Hop manages to get billed as both a positive and negative influence on young people, especially on Black and Latino youth. On one hand, there are African American activists, artists, and entrepreneurs such as Russell Simmons, Michael Eric Dyson, and Jeff Johnson, who seek to build a progressive political movement among young hip-hop fans and who have had modest success with voter registration efforts. On the other hand, there is no shortage of critics who denounce the negative portrayals of Black people, especially women, in hip-hop lyrics and videos (Roach
This type of music played a major part of the African American culture because they used to communicate, express, and uplift. The songs that were created during this time period were known as “spirituals” that they used to recite their religious beliefs and to look forward to the day they would hopefully be set free. During the 1800s, African Americans considered America to be the “land of opportunity.” Unfortunately, the Northern states of America held the most interest for African Americans. In the 1900s, New Orleans ignited the evolution of jazz music. People of all cultures began to unite a variety of musical traditions from all over the world.