T H E J O U R N E Y T O

F I N D I N G A F R I C A N -

A M E R I C A N I D E N T I T Y

By: T’Rese Maddox

CONSERVATIVE BEGINNINGS

Booker T. Washington was a conservative political

and social leader in the late 1800's.

Famous 1895 Atlanta Compromise Speech noted

that education and manual labor for blacks was more

necessary than forcing integration and equality.

“Our greatest danger is that in the great leap from slavery to freedom we

may overlook the fact that the masses of us are to live by the productions

of our hands… progress in the enjoyment of all the privileges that will

come to us must be the result of severe and constant struggle rather than

of artificial forcing.” (Washington)

1895 Atlanta Compromise Speech

Paul Laurence Dunbar emphasizes this

ideal of conservative blacks holding off

equality and their identities to fit in with

mainstream "white society" in his poetry.

His most notable work of this ideal is "We

Wear the Mask" Published in 1895.

Paul Laurence Dunbar

“WE WEAR THE MASK”

“Why should the world be over-wise,/ In

counting all our tears and sighs?/ Nay, let

them only see us, while/ We wear the mask”

(Dunbar)

THE TREACHEROUS

JOURNEY TO LIBERATION

W.E.B. Du Bois was for black liberation and

equality. This ideal began at the turn of the

20th century in 1903 as he published

The Souls of Black Folk

Contained essays about the tensions

between blacks and whites, double

consciousness, and the importance of black

empowerment.

THE SOULS OF BLACK FOLK

“what shall save us from a second slavery? Freedom, too, the

long-sought, we still seek,—the freedom of life and limb, the

freedom to work and think, the freedom to love and aspire”

(Du Bois).

CLAUDE MCKAY

Claude McKay was known for noting

the injustices blacks were facing such as

lynchings and harassment.

Also strove for black liberation in his

poetry.

“ENSLAVED”

“For weary centuries despised, oppressed,/

Enslaved and lynched, denied a human

place/…Then from the dark depths of my soul I

cry/…To liberate my people from its yoke”

(McKay)!

FINDING, KNOWING, &

EMBRACING BLACK IDENTITY

Alain Locke was an educator and

writer who was an important figure

during the Harlem Renaissance in the

1920’s.

Works highlighted the positive aspects

of being black and the importance of

knowing and embracing one’s roots.

“APROPOS OF AFRICA”

“Only prosperity looks backward… all peoples exhibit the

homing instinct and turn back physically or mentally, hopefully

and helpfully, to the land of their origin. And we American

Negros in this respect cannot, will not, be an exception”

(Locke)

LANGSTON HUGHES

Langston Hughes is known for his positive

messages and black empowerment.

Noted that knowing one’s origin was

important and embracing it was crucial for

blacks to acknowledge their self-worth.

“THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF

RIVERS”

“I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young./I built

my hut hear the Congo and it lulled me to sleep/… I’ve

known rivers:/ Ancient, dusky rivers./ My soul has grown

deep like the rivers” (Hughes)