Langston Hughs 1920s

The “Roaring Twenties” were a time of great change and progress in America’s social culture. Society faced a revolution in several areas. Women, for example, after gaining the right to vote, dropped old modest ways and transformed their morals, becoming freer with dress and attitude. Furthermore, music was revolutionized with the new melodies of jazz and blues. Even religion became less constricted, as creationism was questioned by many Americans. Additionally, one of the most developed areas of the 1920’s was black culture and literature. The “New Negro Movement” and the Harlem Renaissance, the literary and artistic aspect of this movement, transformed the mindset of America’s black population, encouraging them to embrace their own culture. Artists, writers, and musicians fueled this fire, adding their original artwork to encourage black individuality. Langston Hughes, one of the most celebrated black writers of the time, expressed this cultural movement in his article The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain, encouraging African Americans to be proud of their race. During the twenties, African Americans faced inequality and racial injustice. The 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson case legalized the concept of “separate but equal,” and the Jim Crow segregation laws were enforced in the South. These laws were still in place during the twenties, and the blacks in the South faced little opportunity and lack of jobs. Continuously, by the twenties many African Americans had begun to move North. During The Great Migration, starting in 1916, about 6 million African Americans moved from the South to the North and West, mostly to fill in for jobs left by soldiers during WWI. As the black population in the North increased, a new KKK emerged, terrorizing African Americans and other minorities. Similarly, race riots were also a problem, creating white versus black violence resulting in many deaths. Even in the North racial tension was high in the twenties and blacks were looked down upon. Before and throughout the 1920’s, African Americans were dealing with cruel discrimination and many developed a low opinion of their own race. It wasn’t until the Harlem Renaissance and progress of the “New Negro,” that the African American’s self opinion began to change. Most blacks thought that success and happiness were directly correlated with whiteness. The “New Negro,” however, embraced their race and black culture, being proud and happy exactly the way they were. Harlem, New York was the heart of negro individuality, fueled by poets and artists embracing the “New Negro.” Artists such as Jacob Lawrence, were the first to depict negroes in paintings, showing illustrations of hope for the African Americans. This complete transformation in mindset agrees with Hughes article The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain. Being proud to be black was the main point of Hughes article, saying that in order to be a truly great artist, a negro must be indifferent about race and proud of his heritage. Hughes questioned why any negro should want to be white. “I am a Negro-and beautiful,” he said. This statement is a good representation of the Harlem Renaissance, giving pride and courage to the “New Negro.” A new class of African Americans emerged who were not afraid to embrace their race and create a new and completely African American culture. An important element of the Harlem Renaissance and “New Negro Movement” was music. As negroes began to create their own culture, they also created a style of music that was completely their own, jazz. Langston Hughes, in his article described jazz as “the eternal tom-tom beating in the Negro soul.” Jazz was even popular with white America and it gave something for African Americans to be proud of. Artists such as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong were not afraid to express themselves through music as opposed to conforming to white culture. Such artists exemplified Hughes advice given in his article, creating real artwork by expressing individuality. As African American culture evolved, negroes became less reliant on whites and formed their own ways of entertainment. The Negro Baseball League, for example, allowed negroes to play baseball in a professional way, the same way that white Americans did in the major leagues. This gave blacks idols to look up to within their own race, increasing African American pride and giving them identity. With more reasons to be proud of their race, more negroes were embracing Hughes advice to find happiness in being African American. Langston Hughes was one of the main advocates for black individuality during the 1920’s, encouraging blacks to embrace their race. The “New Negro Movement” and the Harlem Renaissance were an extension of his writings as many blacks carried out what he called for. Jazz music and the Negro Baseball League created a complete African American community and culture. For the first time in history, African Americans had a reason to be proud of their race and identity, finding success in Hughes guidance.