The New Negro by Alain LeRoy Locke
The New Negro is a seminal work that explores the role of African Americans in American society during the early 20th century. Written by Alain LeRoy Locke, a prominent philosopher and sociologist, the book offers a comprehensive analysis of the cultural, social, and political landscape of the time. Locke argues that the "New Negro" is a product of the urbanization and modernization of African American communities, which has led to a new sense of self-awareness and identity. He contends that this new identity is characterized by a rejection of the old stereotypes and a embrace of the full range of human experience. The book is divided into four main sections: "The New Negro in Art," "The New Negro in Literature," "The New Negro in Politics," and "The New Negro in Social Life." Each section provides a detailed analysis of the various aspects of African American culture and society, highlighting the ways in which they are shaping the future of race relations in America. Throughout the book, Locke draws on a wide range of sources, including literature, art, music, and political theory, to make his case for a new understanding of the African American experience. He argues that this new understanding is essential for building a more equitable and just society, where all individuals can thrive and reach their full potential. Overall, The New Negro is an important work that challenges readers to rethink their assumptions about race and identity in America. Its insights are as relevant today as they were when the book was first published in 1925, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of race relations in our society.
By Alain LeRoy Locke · First published 1925 · Genre: Non-fiction, Anthology, Social Science · 45 chapters
Contents
- A Death and a Birth
- A Black Victorian Childhood
- Child God and Black Aesthete
- An Errand of Culture at Harvard College, 1904–1905
- Locke's Intellectual Awakening, 1905–1907
- Going for the Rhodes
- Oxford Contrasts
- Black Cosmopolitan
- Paying Second-Year Dues at Oxford, 1908–1909
- Italy and America, 1909–1910
- Berlin Stories
- Exile's Returns
- Race Cosmopolitan Comes Home, 1911–1912
- Radical Sociologist at Howard University, 1912–1916
- Rapprochement and Silence
- Fitting in Washington, D.C., 1917–1922
- Rebirth
- Mother of a Movement, Mothered in Return, 1922–1923
- Europe Before Egypt
- Egypt Bound
- Renaissance Self-Fashioning in 1924
- The Dinner and the Dean
- Battling the Barnes
- Looking for Love and Finding the New Negro
- Harlem Issues
- The New Negro and Howard
- The New Negro and The Blacks
- Beauty or Propaganda?
- Black Curator and White Momma
- Langston's Indian Summer
- The American Scholar
- On Maternalism
- The Naked and the Nude
- The Saving Grace of Realism
- Bronze Booklets, Gold Art
- Warn a Brother
- The Riot and the Ride
- Transformation
- Two Trains Running
- The Queer Toussaint
- The Invisible Locke
- FBI, Haiti, and Diasporic Democracy
- Wisdom de Profundis
- The New Negro Lives
- Epilogue