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Difficulty: MediumThe Harlem Renaissance and the New Negro Movement

Read the following excerpt from Alain Locke's 1925 essay, "Enter the New Negro":

> "The American mind has habituated itself to thinking of the Negro as a Negro problem... We in turn have occupied ourselves with the many specialized phases of this problem... But a transformation has taken place... The shadow of the Negro problem has been shaken off. The Negro today wishes to be known for what he is."

Which of the following shifts in African American political and cultural thought does Locke's argument best reflect?

  1. A
    The consolidation of Marcus Garvey's mass populist campaign urging immediate emigration and repatriation to West Africa.
  2. B
    An absolute embrace of Booker T. Washington’s industrial training model over W.E.B. Du Bois’s advocacy for liberal arts education.
  3. A transition from conceptualizing Black identity around societal victimization and deficits to asserting active self-determination and cultural agency.Answer
  4. D
    The decision of Southern agricultural workers to migrate north solely to escape Southern agricultural pests like the boll weevil.

Answer

A transition from conceptualizing Black identity around societal victimization and deficits to asserting active self-determination and cultural agency.
The correct answer accurately captures Locke's central argument that the "New Negro" represents a departure from being defined by white society as a sociological "problem." Instead of accepting a reactive identity centered on disenfranchisement and victimization, the movement asserted cultural agency, self-expression, and intellectual autonomy as central to Black identity.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the provided stimulus excerpt by Alain Locke.
Locke argues that Black Americans have historically been viewed by the public—and have viewed themselves—primarily through the lens of a sociological "problem." He declares that this "shadow" has been shaken off in favor of being known "for what he is."
Understanding the core argument of the primary source is necessary to identify the intellectual shift it represents.
2
Connect the excerpt to the broader tenets of the New Negro Movement.
The New Negro Movement emphasized self-determination, artistic expression, and racial pride to combat stereotypes and achieve civil rights, shifting the focus from victimization to cultural agency.
This links the historical source to the target learning objective regarding the Harlem Renaissance.
3
Evaluate the answer choices to find the one that accurately describes this conceptual shift.
The option describing the transition from societal victimization to self-determination and agency directly aligns with Locke's rejection of the "Negro problem" framing.
This confirms the correct option based on the text's alignment with historical developments.

Key Concept

The Harlem Renaissance and the New Negro Movement
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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The Harlem Renaissance and the New Negro Movement

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