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Difficulty: MediumThe Harlem Renaissance and the New Negro Movement

Read the following excerpt from Alain Locke's essay "Art or Propaganda?" (1928):

> "Propaganda perpetuates the position of group subordination by appealing to the court of public opinion, which is the court of the multitude. Art, on the other hand, is self-expression, self-assertion, and self-revelation. The one is pleading, the other is demonstrating. It is the difference between defensive and offensive tactics. Propaganda is a bid for sympathy; art is a bid for recognition."

Which of the following statements best describes Locke's primary argument about the role of the Black artist in the New Negro Movement?

  1. A
    Black art must function primarily as political propaganda to appeal for civil rights and legal protections.
  2. B
    Black writers and artists should prioritize promoting emigration to Africa to establish a separate nation rather than seeking recognition in the United States.
  3. Black artists should prioritize authentic self-expression to command recognition rather than producing work designed to plead for political sympathy.Answer
  4. D
    Black cultural production should be limited to spiritual matters and organized within Black churches to avoid white backlash.

Answer

Black artists should prioritize authentic self-expression to command recognition rather than producing work designed to plead for political sympathy.
Locke argues that propaganda is a 'defensive' tactic that 'pleads' for sympathy from white public opinion, which ultimately reinforces a subordinate status. In contrast, authentic art acts as 'offensive' self-expression that asserts Black humanity and demands genuine recognition on its own terms.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the excerpt to identify the contrast Locke establishes.
Locke contrasts 'propaganda' (which he calls pleading, defensive, and a bid for sympathy) with 'art' (which he defines as self-expression, demonstrating, and a bid for recognition).
Understanding the fundamental binary in the text is necessary to determine Locke's thesis.
2
Determine Locke's evaluation of the two concepts.
Locke criticizes propaganda for perpetuating subordination and advocates for art as a means of self-assertion and recognition.
This identifies the pedagogical and philosophical stance Locke takes regarding the role of the Black artist.
3
Evaluate the options to find the statement that matches Locke's advocation for self-expression over defensive pleading.
The statement emphasizing authentic self-expression to command recognition over political sympathy aligns perfectly with Locke's argument.
This selects the correct conceptual interpretation of the primary source.

Key Concept

The philosophical debates surrounding the purpose of art and literature during the Harlem Renaissance and the New Negro Movement, specifically the tension between art as self-expression versus art as political propaganda.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

The Harlem Renaissance and the New Negro Movement

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