The New Negro Movement

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From 1865 to today, there have been several complications, limits, and segregations for the African American. Their rights to vote, freedom, and social/economical standings within society have changed over the course of this era. I will discuss each of these areas in this paper. Prior law amendments, wars, and social implications, the African American fought for their freedom and social withstanding. Without these much needed changes to our government and laws, the African American community would still have social dilemmas to this day. After imprisonments, the loss of lives, much sacrifice and an undeniable refusal of contentment, they are now America’s doctors, lawyers, priests, educators, judges and Secretary of State. From slavery to…show more content…
2011). Through fiction, poetry, essays, music, theatre, sculpture, painting and illustration, participants in this first Black arts movement produced work that was both grounded in modernity and an engagement with African-American history, folk culture and memory. In the 1920s the African Americans culture arose and was viewed and accepted by many whites in America. Music was very important to society in this decade with Jazz music being the soundtrack of the decade. Jazz music was a combination of African American traditional styles (blues) with the ragtime beats. Audiences, white and black listened on the radio and danced to this new sound. All-white groups called The Original Dixieland Jazz Band made Jazz music go mainstream. This was how the white society capitalized on the African American culture in the 20th century by mass marketing. Also during this time, writers labeled as Negrotarians by Zora Neale Hurston fought against African American discrimination by bringing attention to the African Americans in the inner cities. Some of these writings were found in African American newspapers like the Voice of the Negro. These writings gave the white society firsthand perspectives of what life was like for the African American in the U.S. Along with these writing African American art also exploded on the scenes. These artists used their African American heritage to uplift and educated fellow Negros as well as whites. They eventually became known as the New Negro, an African American with racial pride and a desire for equality. Some of the African American artists and writers were Arna Bontemps, Bessie Mayle, Jacb Lawrence and James Weldon Johnson.; and intellectuals like W.E.B. Du Bois and Alain Locke. These people made drastic changes in the African American culture and are still looked at as essential people in the Civil Rights
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