Alain LeRoy Locke

Biography

Alain LeRoy Locke was born in Philadelphia in 1885 to educated middle-class parents, Pliny Ishmael Locke and Mary Hawkins Locke. A gifted student, he graduated second in his class from Central High School in Philadelphia in 1902 before attending Harvard University, where he studied under renowned philosophers including William James and Josiah Royce. In 1907, he became the first African American to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, studying philosophy at Oxford University's Hertford College and later at the University of Berlin.

Locke's academic career centered at Howard University, where he taught philosophy for over four decades beginning in 1912. He earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from Harvard in 1918 with his dissertation 'The Problem of Classification in the Theory of Value.' As chair of Howard's philosophy department from 1921 until his retirement in 1953, Locke was a pioneering educator who advocated for including African American studies in university curricula, though he faced resistance from more traditional administrators.

Locke's greatest contribution to American culture was his role as the philosophical architect of the Harlem Renaissance. His 1925 anthology 'The New Negro: An Interpretation' became the defining text of the movement, featuring works by Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Countee Cullen, and other luminaries. Through his theory of cultural pluralism, Locke encouraged African American artists to draw inspiration from their African heritage while engaging with broader American culture, fundamentally reshaping how Black identity was understood and expressed in the 20th century.

Major Works & Series

Literary Significance & Legacy

Alain Locke fundamentally transformed American intellectual discourse through his philosophy of cultural pluralism, which valued the uniqueness of different cultural traditions within a democratic society. His concept of 'ethnic race'—understanding race as primarily a matter of social and cultural rather than biological identity—was decades ahead of its time and influenced generations of scholars. As the acknowledged 'Dean' of the Harlem Renaissance, he provided both theoretical framework and practical support for the explosion of African American creativity in the 1920s and 1930s.

Locke's influence extended far beyond literature to encompass visual arts, music, and social philosophy. He mentored numerous artists and writers, organized traveling exhibitions of African American art, and regularly reviewed Black literature for major publications like Opportunity and Phylon. His emphasis on seeking inspiration from African cultural traditions while engaging with contemporary American society helped establish a new paradigm for Black cultural identity that continues to resonate today. Modern scholars recognize him as one of the most important African American intellectuals of the 20th century.

Best Starting Points

• The New Negro: An Interpretation
  Essential starting point for understanding Locke's vision and the Harlem Renaissance he helped define
• Values and Imperatives
  Key philosophical essay outlining his theory of cultural pluralism and democratic values
• Negro Art—Past and Present
  Accessible introduction to his views on African American artistic heritage and cultural identity
• The Critical Pragmatism of Alain Locke: A Reader
  Comprehensive modern collection of his most important philosophical and cultural writings

Famous Characters

• The New Negro
  Locke's influential conceptualization of the transformed African American identity—self-conscious, dignified, and culturally proud
• The Cultural Pluralist
  Locke's ideal democratic citizen who values diversity and seeks to understand different cultural perspectives
• The Artist-Philosopher
  Locke's vision of the intellectual who bridges academic theory and cultural practice to promote social understanding
• The Mentor-Editor
  Locke's role as guide and supporter to young artists, helping them find their authentic cultural voice