African Americans have always played a significant role in the development of the USA. Since the emergence of the first European colonies in America, they had been vital contributors to the evolution, formation, and rise of the state. Unfortunately, for an extended period, their attitude to them was biased because of the dominance of racism and segregation, which also influenced their self-esteem and well-being. However, the historical events at the end of the 19th and start of the 20th century triggered the change in African-Americans’ mentality (Kendi 310). The radical scope of changes is evidenced by the fast rise of a unique culture, desire to improve their lives, and active social positions peculiar to representatives of this group. The global changes preconditioned by WWI, cultural exchange, and the growing popularity of new values became the major facilitators of this process, giving rise to the “New Negro” movement.
One of the essential features of this social phenomenon was its close ties with the international processes. WWI became the event that triggered the significant reconsideration of values and visions. African-American soldiers who fought abroad acquired a chance to broaden their horizons and alter their representations of themselves (Painter 202). They met other people of African descent who lived in the European states and learned about their experiences, concluding that they have numerous similarities. It stipulated the growth of consciousness, self-actualization, and the desire to refuse the ideas of racial discrimination and limits of racial identity (Painter 198). These factors cultivated the “New Negro” movement, transforming it into a phenomenon aimed at restoring people’s dignity and culture.
Another factor stimulating the growth of the social movement and these processes was music. Black soldiers’ identity was significantly influenced by the African-American military bands (Painter 198). Their positive image contributed to the recognition of the unique music style introduced to the public. During WWI, the black bands played highly syncopated jazz, representing their individuality and unique culture (Painter 198). This demonstration of the growing identity became a potent stimulus for the rise of the “New Negro” movement, focusing on protecting the interests of black people and cultivating their culture.
Finally, the anti-black riots in the USA after WWI became another reason for promoting the unification of the black people and their desire to struggle for their rights. First, African-American veterans returning home faced oppression and racial violence in numerous cities across the state (Painter 201). Second, white veterans who returned home found that their jobs were performed by black people, which also increased tension and made new clashes based on racial issues inevitable (Painter 201). The need to protect themselves from one hand, and the altered mentality from another, promoted the emergence of the desire to struggle for their rights and end with segregation (Kendi 319). Under these conditions, the “New Negro” movement became the embodiment of these desires and moods.
Altogether, the combination of international and domestic factors created favorable conditions for the rise of the black movements. Having acquired new experiences in Europe and other countries, African-Americans got a new vision of self and identity. It resulted in their readiness to alter society around them and establish a new paradigm of relations with white people. For this reason, they focused on cultivating their unique culture and uniting the nation as a way to overcome barriers associated with the ideas of white supremacy.
Works Cited
Painter, Nell Irvin. Creating Black Americans: African-American History and Its Meanings. Oxford University Press, 2006.
Kendi, Ibram. Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. Bold Type Books, 2017.