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Difficulty: EasyThe Harlem Renaissance and the New Negro Movement

In her 1928 essay 'How It Feels to Be Colored Me,' Zora Neale Hurston writes:

> 'But I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes. I do not mind at all. I do not belong to the sobbing school of Negrohood who hold that nature has given them a dirty deal and they whose feelings are all hurt about it. Even in the helter-skelter skirmish that is my life, I have seen that the world is to the strong regardless of a little pigmentation.'

Which of the following attitudes central to the New Negro Movement is best reflected in this excerpt?

  1. A
    The belief that Black Americans must emigrate to West Africa or the Caribbean to escape American racial oppression
  2. An emphasis on personal pride and self-determination rather than viewing Black identity through a lens of tragedyAnswer
  3. C
    An endorsement of Booker T. Washington's strategy of accepting social segregation in exchange for vocational training
  4. D
    An alignment with Marcus Garvey's mass movement for political separation and global African colonization

Answer

An emphasis on personal pride and self-determination rather than viewing Black identity through a lens of tragedy
The correct answer is correct because Hurston's rejection of being 'tragically colored' and her refusal to join the 'sobbing school' of thought highlight the New Negro Movement's core values of personal pride, self-determination, and active agency rather than passive victimhood.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the provided excerpt from Zora Neale Hurston's essay to determine its central tone and message.
Hurston explicitly states that she is 'not tragically colored' and rejects a perspective of self-pity or feeling 'nature has given them a dirty deal,' emphasizing instead her own strength and resilience.
Understanding the primary source's tone is crucial to linking it to the broader historical and cultural context.
2
Connect the excerpt's message to the core philosophies of the New Negro Movement and Harlem Renaissance.
The New Negro Movement championed self-determination, pride, and the active creation of a self-defined Black identity, which aligns with Hurston's assertion of personal agency and strength.
This connection allows for the identification of the correct historical theme among the options.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that best reflects this alignment, and eliminate incorrect options.
The option highlighting personal pride and self-determination directly captures the essence of Hurston's words, whereas the other options describe unrelated political debates (emigration, accommodation, or Garveyism).
This step ensures that the selected option is the most accurate interpretation of the text.

Key Concept

The Harlem Renaissance and the New Negro Movement
Estimated Time:45s
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The Harlem Renaissance and the New Negro Movement

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