Of “The New Negro”
More and more, an intelligent realization of the great discrepancy between the American social creed and the American social practice forces upon the Negro the taking of the moral advantage that is his.
Only the steadying and sobering effect of a truly characteristic gentleness of spirit prevents the rapid rise of a definite cynicism and counter-hate and a defiant superiority feeling. Human as this reaction would be, the majority still deprecate its advent, and would gladly see it forestalled by the speedy amelioration of its causes. We wish our race pride to be a healthier, more positive achievement than a feeling based upon a realization of the shortcomings of others.
But all paths toward the attainment of a sound social attitude have been difficult; only a relatively few enlightened minds have been able as the phrase puts it “to rise above” prejudice.
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, overlooking Black Lives Matter Plaza, rising above prejudice and racism.
The ordinary man has had until recently only a hard choice between the alternatives of supine and humiliating submission and stimulating but hurtful counter-prejudice. Fortunately from some inner, desperate resourcefulness has recently sprung up the simple expedient of
fighting prejudice by mental passive resistance, in other words, by trying to ignore it.
For the few, this manna may perhaps be effective, but the masses cannot thrive upon it.
***
In the last decade something beyond the watch and guard of statistics has happened in the life of the American Negro…and those who preside over the Negro problem have a changeling on their lap. For the younger generation is vibrant with a new psychology; under the very eyes of the professional observer, the new spirit is awake in the masses! –Alain Locke (1886-1954), 1925
Through the Dusty Spectacles of Past Controversies
Category: Book Bites, Newsy Bites
Tags:Alain Locke, Black Lives Matter, cultural commentary with bite, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, George Floyd, The New Negro
Of “The New Negro”
More and more, an intelligent realization of the great discrepancy between the American social creed and the American social practice forces upon the Negro the taking of the moral advantage that is his.
Only the steadying and sobering effect of a truly characteristic gentleness of spirit prevents the rapid rise of a definite cynicism and counter-hate and a defiant superiority feeling. Human as this reaction would be, the majority still deprecate its advent, and would gladly see it forestalled by the speedy amelioration of its causes. We wish our race pride to be a healthier, more positive achievement than a feeling based upon a realization of the shortcomings of others.
But all paths toward the attainment of a sound social attitude have been difficult; only a relatively few enlightened minds have been able as the phrase puts it “to rise above” prejudice.
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, overlooking Black Lives Matter Plaza, rising above prejudice and racism.
The ordinary man has had until recently only a hard choice between the alternatives of supine and humiliating submission and stimulating but hurtful counter-prejudice. Fortunately from some inner, desperate resourcefulness has recently sprung up the simple expedient of
fighting prejudice by mental passive resistance, in other words, by trying to ignore it.
For the few, this manna may perhaps be effective, but the masses cannot thrive upon it.
***
In the last decade something beyond the watch and guard of statistics has happened in the life of the American Negro…and those who preside over the Negro problem have a changeling on their lap. For the younger generation is vibrant with a new psychology; under the very eyes of the professional observer, the new spirit is awake in the masses! –Alain Locke (1886-1954), 1925
Holliday Vann
...is a Master Writer who is crawling, reaching with French-manicured fingertips to touch the lowest hem of Toni Morrison's garments in hopes of her name one day being whispered glowingly in the same sentence as Her name.
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