The “New Negro”

Charlotte Manzone

The Roaring Twenties“The 1920's were a period of tension between new and changing attitudes on the one hand and traditional values and nostalgia on the other”

 

What led to these tensions between old and new? In what ways was the tension manifested?

IntroductionThroughout the 1920s , the country underwent a period of cultural divisions that stirred Americans. There was a tension between tradition and modernity, which shaped much of the historical time frame of the period. Most African Americans were coming back from Europe after the Great War whilst others had migrated to the Northern Cities during the Great Migration. African Americans did not gain the democracy they fought for in the war. However, they carried a new sense of racial pride and cultural prosperity in their newly capital – Harlem, New York.

Before WWIBlacks were eager to join the war in order to

make the world safe for democracy

Great Migration: migration of Southern blacks to the urban North Need of African Americans in factories using new

mass production Population rise in Chicago, New York and

Philadelphia

After WWIThe postwar reaction brought many blacks into despair Cruelty from the Ku Klux Klan Suffered from the postwar middle class hostility to

laborPersistent unwillingness in admitting black workers in

organized labor

The increasing population of blacks in Northern cities caused conflictBlack population in NY doubledRiots formed Ghettos formed

“Middletown”Written by Robert S. Lynd & Helen Merrell Lynd Sociological case studies on African American

culture in Indiana Observations:

All public places were segregated for children Discrimination for use of certain facilities Newspaper was segregated for the 5% black

population, “In Colored Circles”

W.E.B Du BoisDisappointed of the militancy created towards

blacks in the 1920s The Crisis, official magazine for NAACP founded by

Du Bois and others Increased his commitment for black

nationalism Organized a series of Pan African Conferencescreated an international black movement never made up his mind whether to work for

integration or black separatism Rejected Garvey’s message

Marcus Garvey Founded the Universal Negro Improvement

Association Attracted thousands of followers Did not focus of integration of color

“Back to Africa” - the black man must “work out his salvation in his motherland” (motto) Black Star Line Steamship Company: to transport

blacks back to Africa Organized many businesses for blacksGained support from the Ku Klux Klan and

other white racists

Garvey’s Message proud to be black & prepared to resist both mistreatment and white ideas

...helped form the “New Negro”

Served to build racial pride Aimed for: poor & unschooled

blacksBelieved God and Christ were

coloredSpeech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC9QhxF_kL4

New NegroThe ghettos in Northern cities produced advantages for blacks Increase in political power

Enabling them to elect representatives to state legislatures & Congress

Exert considerable influence in closely contested elections

Offered economic opportunity, political rights, and freedom

Allowed blacks to act freely Away from the debasements of the South

RECAP: Old Negro Vs. New Negro Old Negro Mistreated Southern blacks No political rights or equality

New Negro Located in Northern cities Promotion of…

Renewed sense of racial pride Cultural self-expression Economic independence Progressive politics

The New Negro is also referred to the Harlem

Renaissance - forging a new cultural identity among African

American people

Harlem Renaissance A modern artistic and literacy movement that celebrated African American life and culture in early 20th Century in Harlem, New York

Harlem was the largest black

community in the world & became the

cultural capital

Introduction to JazzPopular music of the ageOriginated in New Orleans Became popular in New York after the Great

MigrationSpread throughout the country and became a

global phenomenon Jazz was seen as improvisation: expression of

freedom Desire of many people to break from tradition and

throw off conventional restraints Whites musicians & white audiences took it up

Racial tolerance and understanding

Louis Armstrong was the most famous Jazz performer in New York Played in the evolution of Jazz

Clubs became increasingly popular due to the prohibition of alcohol Illegal drinking New form of entertainment

Cotton Club Form of entertainment for whites Performed by blacks Segregated

Savoy Ballroom First racial integration Home of “Happy Feet”; most popular

dance club in Harlem Apollo

Originally for burlesque Switched to black entertainment

Most popular clubs in Harlem

Black newspapers & magazines flourished along with theatrical companies

Du Bois, The Crisis

Langston Hughes, poet “Harlem! I… dropped my bags, took a deep breath,

and felt happy again.” Zora Neale Hurston joined with Hughes to create

literacy magazine and celebrated the lives of ordinary black workers

Most blacks were hopeful even with the continuous white prejudice

Sociologists and psychologists confirmed that environment rather than hereditary was preventing blacks from economic growth Eventual disappearance of white

prejudice

Alain Locke, The New Negro Anthology of fiction, poetry, and essays

on African American art and literature Example of the creative efforts coming

out of the burgeoning New Negro Movement

The Roaring Twenties“The 1920's were a period of tension between new and changing attitudes on the one hand and traditional values and nostalgia on the other”

 

What led to these tensions between old and new? In what ways was the tension manifested?

ConclusionAlthough African Americans still faced white prejudice, they were no longer seen as the Southern slaves. The idea of the “New Negro” portrayed through Garvey’s ideals promoted racial pride, economic stability and political rights. Also, the Great Migration allowed a great concentration of black population in Harlem, New York where the Harlem Renaissance took place. This movement allowed black self-expression through the arts. Whilst black literacy and theaters flourished. Jazz played an important role as a source of entertainment and freedom of expression enjoyed by both races. Overall, the 1920s was a time of celebration for African Americans as they roam freely in the streets of New York with a new sense of identity.

YouTube Video

More about the introduction of jazz in the 20s & Harlem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brBB09K35Co