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Difficulty: EasyThe New Negro Movement and Cultural Debates

In his landmark 1925 anthology *The New Negro*, Alain Locke describes a shift in African American consciousness, writing that the "Negro has been more of a formula than a human being" but is now "shaking off the psychology of imitation and dependency." According to Locke, what is the defining characteristic of the "New Negro"?

  1. A commitment to self-determination, self-reliance, and pride in African American cultural and artistic expressionAnswer
  2. B
    A desire to reject United States citizenship entirely in favor of immediate emigration to Africa or the Caribbean
  3. C
    The complete unification of all African Americans under a single mass populist organization led by Marcus Garvey
  4. D
    The total abandonment of political agitation in favor of Booker T. Washington's strategy of vocational education and agricultural labor

Answer

A commitment to self-determination, self-reliance, and pride in African American cultural and artistic expression
Alain Locke defined the 'New Negro' as an active, self-reliant participant in American society who used literature, art, and intellectual debate to express pride and demand respect, representing a psychological shift away from dependency and subordination.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the quote and Locke's definition of the 'New Negro'.
The New Negro is defined by moving away from dependency, imitation, and being treated as a passive social 'formula' toward self-reliance.
Locke stresses that the New Negro has gained self-respect and self-reliance, expressing this transformation through art, literature, and social consciousness.
2
Evaluate the options to identify which one aligns with this cultural and psychological shift.
The option emphasizing self-determination, self-reliance, and cultural pride directly matches Locke's definition.
This option captures the shift from dependency to active self-expression and self-determination.

Key Concept

The New Negro Movement and Cultural Debates
Estimated Time:45s
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The New Negro Movement and Cultural Debates

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