Alain Leroy Locke: The new Negro
Alan Locke is a philosopher and the first black person who received a doctorate in philosophy, best known for promoting the Harlem Renaissance. It is a movement of population shift of African Americans to northern industrial cities searching for better jobs, which helped foster cultural richness and was named the Harlem Renaissance. Locke’s main aim was to promote black people in civilian life and show the difference between “Old” and “New Negro”.
The author commonly draws on the theme of comparing the old and new life of Negro race. According to Locke, “The Old Negro was a product of stereotypes and judgments that were put on them, not ones that they created. They were forced to live in a shadow of themselves and others’ actions” (pp. 21-31). The migration caused a shift in history because it has changed how the Negro is viewed by the rest of the world. The new one is who no longer lacks self-respect, is whom courage to show the identity of black people for northern cities in music and another self-expression. The “New Negro” is a person who realizes that humanity is equal.
To sum up, Alan Locke’s influence on today’s world is significant. The author promoted black people’s lives throughout the whole world in writing. It is an example of how one person can impact the fate of the race. Promoting the Harlem Renaissance movement, Locke emphasizes the progressiveness and talent of black people. Philosopher helped black authors become heard and respected and to explore the beauty and pain of blacks in jazz music to erase white people’s stereotypes.
The Theme of the Black No More
Black No More story is mainly focused on the theme of racism. It shows the situation when the color of people’s skin changes attitudes towards them. Max Disher is a black man who suffered from the scientific transformation that caused Max to become a white man and change his name to Matthew Fisher. After these actions, the main character started building a new life of a successful man: became a leader of a white supremacy group, maried the white woman who rejected Disher before changing his skin color. Max Disher idealized the life of whites before becoming one. Matthew was disappointed about the new routine; his expectations of being a white man were destroyed.
Helen, Max’s wife, is disrespectful of black people, especially Max, at the beginning of the novel, but when Matthew reveals that their child has darker skin because of him, she accepted it. It shows people’s impermanence, how humanity can change its opinion through a period. In addition, at the end of the story, Matthew was more white than natural white people, and it also shows a changing tendency.
Nicolas Guillen’s Poetry
In Small Ode, the author shows two aspects of the boxer’s life. A Cuban boxer needed to perform for people who paid for the battle, and it highlights racism. On the other hand, Guillen shows the boy’s strength and stamina in boxing, which means respect for the young boxer. In My Last Name, Nicolas Guillen tried to find his African heritage. This poem shows the author’s attitude to the conditions in which he lived. Poet’s main aim was to promote the sovereignty of his homeland.
Reference
Locke, Alain, ed. The new Negro: Voices of the Harlem renaissance. Open Road Media, 2021.