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Difficulty: HardThe Harlem Renaissance and the New Negro Movement

Read the following excerpt from Arthur Schomburg's essay 'The Negro Digs Up His Past,' published in the landmark anthology *The New Negro* (1925):

> 'The Negro has been a man without a history because he has been considered a man without a worthy past. But history, bias-free, is beginning to reveal that the Negro has a rich and ancient heritage which has been systematically ignored or distorted... The American Negro must rebuild his past in order to make his future.'

Based on the excerpt, which of the following best explains how Schomburg’s argument aligns with the broader goals of the New Negro Movement?

  1. A
    It advocates for the mass emigration of African Americans to West Africa as the only viable path to rebuild African civilizations free from Western influence.
  2. B
    It positions the study of history as a secondary pursuit that should only follow the attainment of economic security through agricultural and vocational training.
  3. It asserts that reclaiming and documenting a distinct, rich African and diasporic history is essential for establishing racial pride and validating claims to full citizenship.Answer
  4. D
    It claims that the cultural revitalization of Harlem was solely a product of Northern economic pull factors, ignoring the intellectual legacy of Southern resistance.

Answer

The correct answer asserts that reclaiming and documenting a distinct, rich African and diasporic history is essential for establishing racial pride and validating claims to full citizenship.
The correct answer shows that reclaiming and documenting a distinct, rich African and diasporic history is essential for establishing racial pride and validating claims to full citizenship. Schomburg's essay argues that history is an active tool for self-determination and dismantling racial prejudice, which directly aligns with the New Negro Movement's goals of self-respect and equality.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the excerpt from Arthur Schomburg's essay.
Identify that the author views the reclamation and restoration of Black history ('rebuild his past') as a prerequisite for self-respect and political/social progress ('in order to make his future').
Understanding the primary source's core thesis is necessary to connect it to the New Negro Movement.
2
Relate the thesis to the intellectual framework of the New Negro Movement.
Connect the reclamation of history to the movement's emphasis on self-determination, artistic expression, intellectual achievement, and challenging white supremacy.
This establishes the historical alignment between Schomburg's text and the goals of the Harlem Renaissance.
3
Differentiate this perspective from alternative ideologies.
Recognize that this intellectual and rights-asserting approach differs from Marcus Garvey's mass emigrationism and Booker T. Washington's primary focus on vocational training.
This step eliminates plausible distractors based on competing strategies of racial advancement.

Key Concept

Intellectual foundations of the New Negro Movement and historical reclamation
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

The Harlem Renaissance and the New Negro Movement

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