Week 6 discussion Questions PDF

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Based upon the documents presented that week, students were asked to answer select questions utilizing the documents for reference in order to support their answers....

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1. What are the historical factors that gave rise to the New Negro Movement? As popularized by Alain Locke in his book, The New Negro, this movement was prompted by the occurance of World War I and the Harlem Renaissance. The ideal of the the new negro movement is to encourage the outspoken refusal to submit to the discrimatory practices and laws of the Jim Crow racial segregation. Due to the widespread migration of Southern African-Americans to the prosperous industrial culture of the North, along with the shift of civil rights philosophy from Booker T. Washington’s “accommodationist” approach to combating segregated society, to a W.E.B Dubois approach which emphasized education as a tool for looking over “the veil” (The Souls of Black Folk, 2.) which prevents African-Americans from attaining the same opportunities as their white counterparts. The Harlem Renaissance fostered an environment rich with racial pride and freedom of expression for African-Americans; producing talented poets and musicians alike. This is significant because it also allowed for Black artists to vent their frustrations with a segregated society, as well as allow for their talent to be harbored and exposed to a mainstream white audience. As exemplified with both Hughes and Mckay’s poems, these poets were not only able to articulate their frustrations with racial discrimination in a digestible manner to a white audience, but were also able to reach their African-American readers, urging they no longer submit to the tyrannical racial segregation implemented by Jim Crow Laws. Furthermore, with such musicians as Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong, the Harlem Renaissance attracted both white and black audiences to their shows. Not only did this force racial segregation, but it also allowed for mutual understanding of the races. As described by Dubois as the “double-consciousness”(5.), this integration of audience impacted the black artists as they witnessed the “soul-beauty” of both races at this show, however, could not marry how a large majority of their listeners “despised”(5.) their race. This is an interesting concept because it embodies this

 here he emphasizes mutual understanding expressed by Locke in The New Negro, w that in order to thrive there must be a mutual respect for one another from both races;

 hen he expresses his Furthermore, this is echoed in Dubois’ The Soul of Black Folk, w concern of whether millions of African-Americans can restrain themselves from “brooding over the wrongs of the past and difficulties of the present”(107.) The Harlem Renaissance allowed for a harmonious intermingle of the races, which allowed for each race to observe each other outside of the burden of societal or political etiquette. Along with this, World War I also helped give rise to the New Negro Movement, as described by Locke, the African-American was given the opportunity to expose themselves to racial interactions outside of the United States. This is incredibly significant because this showcased to them that it is possible for Blacks and Whites to live peacefully together without one dominating the other one socially and politically. It also brought up the question of why they should fight and risk their lives for a country that does not offer them the same equality their fighting for others to gain. This prompted a more aggitative approach to the matter of Civil Rights in America, helping give rise to black leaders such as Marcus Garvey, who’s speeches spoke to the “discontent” and “pride” of the rejected and oppressed African-American.

2. According to this week’s course materials, what were the most serious problems facing African Americans in the early twentieth century? The most serious problems facing African-Americans in the early twentieth century was the issue of attaining an education which matched that of their white counterparts, along with gaining more political power through unrestricted access to vote. In DuBois’ The Soul of Black Folk, t he author discusses the importance of education as an African-American because not only did it educate them on the tragic

history of their race, but it also allowed for them to intellectually disembody racially biased arguments for the continuation of segregation laws and the unfair treatment of their brethren. Beyond that, it also allowed for the production of African-American teachers, doctors, and lawyers, which meant there was proper there was more opportunities for African-Americans to have access to essential things - such as medical treatment and a certain standard of education - which would often be deprived from them due racial prejudices demonstrated from white professionals. Moreover, Du Bois also discusses how the key to equality is through political equality. Whilst leaders such as Garvey preached black independence and the separation of races, Du Bois emphasizes the history of African-Americans in building the United States; rightfully arguing that the way forward is not to create more division, but to take advantage of African-American’s contribution to the United States and participate in seeking greater political power through voting. This was a difficult act as the Jim Crow segregation laws and literacy tests attempted to prevent such access to political power, however, he countered these obstacles through the reiteration of the importance of education as the benefits were “supreme”(100.) In conclusion, the societal aspects of the civil rights movement during this time has made a huge transformation from previously self-limiting ideology held by Freedman; shifting from viewing themselves as an inferior race, to one which deserves all the same rights and privileges of White people. Whilst, the political and societal parts of this period had yet to reflect this mindset evolution, as highlighted by Locke in The New Negro, t he mission of equality first started with African-Americans enlightening themselves by understanding that they were entitled to the same benefits of white people, and were willing to educate themselves as a way of ensuring they, and other African-Americans, had undeniable access to such things.

3. What were the different strategies that black leaders proposed to address these problems? Booker T. Wahington’s approach to segregation was what is referred to as the “accommodationist” theory. This basically placed the burden of racial segregation upon African-Americans by encouraging them to adjust and accomdate to the racial segragation system they were forcefully placed within. The main focus of this approach was to not challenge the racial system, and to concentrate upon ensuring they could be their best selves despite the unjust system of oppression weighing them down everyday. An agricultural scientist, Washington advised that African-Americans should lower their aspiration as it was necessary for them to strive for such occupations as doctor and lawyer as the Southern economy mainly profited off of an agricultural economy. This strategy was more popular in the years following Emancipation as the newly Freedmen were just happy to taste freedom, whilst limited, and still viewed slavery as “the sum of all villainies”(The Souls of Black Folk, 5.), viewing themselves as “the root of all sorrow”(5.) However, with the Harlem Renaissance and World War I, the ideologies of W.E.B DuBois and Marcus Garvey began to replace this self-limiting slave mindset, introducing the emergence of a younger generation of African-Americans who were never subjected the psychological trauma and ideals implemented in slavery. DuBois approach emphasized the importance of education as a tool for not only attaining the intellectual ability to defend themselves against racially charged arguments and provide more black doctors and teachers to enrich the African-American community, but also to help gain access to “the booth”; enabling political power which he saw as the key to ensuring equality. Moreover, Garvey’s speeches were a precursor to the sermons of Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam’s rhetoric. Encouraging the idea of the separation of races, Garvey’s approach particularly spoke to the resentment of African-Americans and their pride; making him especially popular with younger people infuriated with a prejudice society. Whilst DuBois and Garvey had

significantly different solutions, their ideology that African-Americans deserved better was the same - effectively replacing the self-defeating mindset of encouraged by Washington.

4. Had you been alive at the time, which of these strategies would you have chosen to pursue? If I had been alive at this time, I think I would have chosen to pursue DuBois’ strategy as it uplifted the ideal of mutual understanding and intermingling of the races and emphasized the importance of education - which I believe to be one of the biggest privileges a person can have access to. However, I’m not sure if I would of been swayed by Garvey’s rhetoric of separationism as a strategy; if I was an oppressed young African-American at this time, I can see how his speeches would of been persuading as its easy to give in to resentful emotions when feeling invalidated. Moreover, DuBois’ approach is the most likely to affect change if looked at from a logical standpoint, plus, his approach also focuses on giving back to the African-American community which is undeniably an effective way to uplift and unify a race....