New Negro Movement In Harlem Renaissance
Undoubtedly, the notion of blackness influenced the development of the Harlem Renaissance. African Americans wanted to find a new value of their skin color in order to brake with old stereotypes. As E. Patrick Johnson states, during the time of Harlem Renaissance, blackness was perceived as a sort of a weapon to fight with the white dominance. During the time of slavery, African Americans were excluded from political and cultural life and, that is why, they decided to actively stand up against this subordination and exclusion (Johnson, 2003).
1.8. New Negro Movement
New Negro Movement is a term coined during the Harlem Renaissance. The aim of it was to create a new black identity and, as a result, to challenge stereotypes that existed during
the time of slavery (King, 2009). Because of these biases, African Americans were perceived as violent and primitive people, not willing to engage themselves in art and culture. There were thought to be driven by instincts. There are two main approaches to the New Negro Movement that developed among artists of that time (Morrison, 2008). Some of the intellectuals believed that they should not look back, but, to the contrary, they ought to be focused on the future. Their main objective was to cut themselves from the past and their ancestors. The second group emphasized that the role of history should be of utmost importance and, according to Morrison their “ancestors are not just parents, they are a sort of timeless people whose relationships to the characters are benevolent, instructive, and protective, and they provide a certain kind of wisdom” (2008: 343). Crenshaw supports this argument by saying that African Americans’ legacy and history behind cannot be forgotten, and, more importantly, should be treated as timeless and universal for all generations (1989: 62).
1.8. New Negro Movement
New Negro Movement is a term coined during the Harlem Renaissance. The aim of it was to create a new black identity and, as a result, to challenge stereotypes that existed during
the time of slavery (King, 2009). Because of these biases, African Americans were perceived as violent and primitive people, not willing to engage themselves in art and culture. There were thought to be driven by instincts. There are two main approaches to the New Negro Movement that developed among artists of that time (Morrison, 2008). Some of the intellectuals believed that they should not look back, but, to the contrary, they ought to be focused on the future. Their main objective was to cut themselves from the past and their ancestors. The second group emphasized that the role of history should be of utmost importance and, according to Morrison their “ancestors are not just parents, they are a sort of timeless people whose relationships to the characters are benevolent, instructive, and protective, and they provide a certain kind of wisdom” (2008: 343). Crenshaw supports this argument by saying that African Americans’ legacy and history behind cannot be forgotten, and, more importantly, should be treated as timeless and universal for all generations (1989: 62).