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Difficulty: HardThe Harlem Renaissance and the New Negro Movement

Read the following excerpt from Marita Bonner’s 1925 essay, "On Being Young—A Woman—And Colored":

> "You decide that something is wrong with a world that makes you wish you had never been born if you cannot be white... You look at the center of your life and you see a crowd of people. You are one of them. You are all trying to get somewhere, but you are all blocked by a wall—a wall that is invisible but as solid as granite."

Based on the excerpt, which of the following best describes how Bonner’s perspective critiques or expands the mainstream concept of the "New Negro"?

  1. It highlights how the intersection of racial and gender discrimination created unique social and creative constraints that challenged the gender-blind optimism of the New Negro movement.Answer
  2. B
    It argues that Black women should abandon the racial solidarity of the Harlem Renaissance to align fully with mainstream white feminist and suffrage organizations.
  3. C
    It attributes the 'invisible wall' of oppression entirely to Southern de jure segregation, implying that these barriers did not exist for Black women in Northern urban centers.
  4. D
    It echoes Marcus Garvey's Black nationalist philosophy by claiming that political separation and emigration are the only viable solutions to overcome systemic barriers.

Answer

The correct option is the one stating that Bonner's essay highlights how the intersection of racial and gender discrimination created unique social and creative constraints that challenged the gender-blind optimism of the New Negro movement.
The correct option is correct because Marita Bonner’s essay explicitly addresses the double burden of race and gender ('young, woman, colored') and how it limits individual agency, directly challenging the male-dominated, upwardly mobile focus of the mainstream 'New Negro' movement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the provided stimulus excerpt from Marita Bonner's essay.
The author describes an 'invisible wall' that blocks young Black women from achieving their potential and finding self-determination, suggesting a quiet, internal preparation rather than overt political or physical movement.
Understanding the core theme of Bonner's piece (the intersection of race, gender, and youth) is essential to identifying her critique of Harlem Renaissance norms.
2
Recall the mainstream definition and goals of the 'New Negro' movement.
The New Negro movement, popularized by Alain Locke, emphasized racial pride, economic independence, and artistic expression, but often assumed a universal experience of mobility and agency that was primarily male-centered.
This establishes the point of comparison to see how Bonner's work critiques or expands on this mainstream framework.
3
Evaluate the options to identify which one accurately links Bonner's intersectional perspective to the 'New Negro' concept.
The correct option correctly identifies that Bonner introduces gender constraints as a complication to the optimism of the New Negro movement, while the other choices misrepresent her argument by conflating it with white feminism, limiting it to Southern segregation, or associating it with Garveyite emigrationism.
This confirms the correct option based on historical context and textual analysis.

Key Concept

Intersectional perspectives on the Harlem Renaissance and the New Negro Movement
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

The Harlem Renaissance and the New Negro Movement

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