Glossary
"The Negro Digs Up His Past"
A pivotal essay by Arturo Schomburg, included in Alain Locke's *The New Negro* anthology, which emphasized the importance of uncovering and preserving African American history to challenge dismissive narratives.
Example:
In "The Negro Digs Up His Past", Schomburg passionately argued that Black people must reclaim their history to assert their rightful place in world civilization.
African Free School
Schools established in the late 18th century in New York to educate children of enslaved and free Black people, playing a key role in preparing early Black abolitionist leaders.
Example:
The African Free School provided foundational education that enabled many of its alumni to become prominent figures in the fight against slavery.
Arturo Schomburg
A Black Puerto Rican bibliophile, historian, and activist whose vast collection of materials on the global Black experience formed the basis of the Schomburg Center.
Example:
Arturo Schomburg dedicated his life to collecting and preserving Black history, believing that 'the Negro must be given his rightful place in the annals of the world.'
Association for the Study of Negro Life and History
An organization founded by Carter G. Woodson in 1915 to promote research, preserve documents, and educate the public about African American history and culture.
Example:
The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History was instrumental in professionalizing the field of Black history and making it accessible to a wider audience.
Black Intellectual Tradition
A long-standing lineage of thought, scholarship, and activism by African Americans that challenges dominant narratives, preserves Black experiences, and empowers the community through knowledge.
Example:
The Black Intellectual Tradition can be traced back centuries, with figures like David Walker advocating for Black liberation long before formal academic fields emerged.
Carter G. Woodson
Known as the 'Father of Black History,' he was a historian, author, and educator who played a pivotal role in promoting the study of African American history and establishing Black History Month.
Example:
Carter G. Woodson tirelessly advocated for the inclusion of Black history in school curricula, believing it was essential for the empowerment of African Americans.
David Walker's Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World
A powerful anti-slavery pamphlet published in 1829 by David Walker, which vehemently challenged slavery and racism and called for Black resistance.
Example:
David Walker's Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World was a radical and influential text that inspired abolitionists and terrified slaveholders.
Harlem Renaissance
An explosion of Black art, literature, and music in the 1920s and 1930s, primarily centered in Harlem, New York, celebrating Black culture and identity.
Example:
During the Harlem Renaissance, artists like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston created groundbreaking works that redefined Black identity.
Journal of Negro History
A scholarly journal founded in 1916 by Carter G. Woodson, dedicated to publishing research and articles on African American history and culture.
Example:
The Journal of Negro History became a vital platform for scholars to share rigorous historical research that countered prevailing racist narratives.
Negro History Week (Black History Month)
An initiative established by Carter G. Woodson in 1926 as Negro History Week, which later expanded to become Black History Month, dedicated to celebrating and studying African American history.
Example:
Negro History Week, now Black History Month, began as a way to ensure that the contributions of African Americans were recognized and taught.
New Negro Movement
A cultural and intellectual movement of the early 20th century that challenged racist ideas about Black people and promoted empowerment through knowledge and cultural expression.
Example:
The New Negro Movement fostered a sense of racial pride and unity, laying crucial groundwork for future civil rights efforts.
Schomburg Center
A leading research library of the New York Public Library, established in 1926 based on Arturo Schomburg's collection, dedicated to documenting and preserving the global Black experience.
Example:
The Schomburg Center serves as an invaluable repository for scholars studying African American history, housing millions of items related to Black culture worldwide.
The "New Negro"
A concept promoted by the New Negro Movement, representing a confident, creative, and politically active African American who challenged stereotypes and demanded equality.
Example:
The emergence of The "New Negro" symbolized a shift from passive acceptance to active assertion of Black identity and rights.
The Mis-Education of the Negro
A foundational book by Carter G. Woodson, published in 1933, which critiqued the Eurocentric biases in American education and argued that the system failed to properly educate African Americans about their own heritage.
Example:
The Mis-Education of the Negro argued that the existing education system indoctrinated Black students with white supremacist ideas, hindering their self-empowerment.
The Philadelphia Negro
A seminal sociological study published by W.E.B. Du Bois in 1899, which meticulously documented the social and economic conditions of African Americans in Philadelphia.
Example:
The Philadelphia Negro is considered one of the first empirical sociological studies in the United States, providing a detailed look at urban Black life.
The Souls of Black Folk
A collection of essays by W.E.B. Du Bois published in 1903, exploring the concept of 'double consciousness' and the spiritual and social challenges faced by African Americans.
Example:
The Souls of Black Folk introduced the enduring concept of 'double consciousness,' describing the internal conflict of being both American and Black.
Their Eyes Were Watching God
A seminal novel by Zora Neale Hurston, published in 1937, which celebrates Black vernacular, explores the complexities of African American life, and centers on a Black woman's journey of self-discovery.
Example:
Their Eyes Were Watching God is celebrated for its authentic portrayal of Black Southern dialect and its powerful narrative of female independence.
W.E.B. Du Bois
A prominent sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, and author who conducted groundbreaking research on the experiences of African Americans and challenged notions of Black inferiority.
Example:
W.E.B. Du Bois used empirical data in works like The Philadelphia Negro to demonstrate the systemic nature of racial inequality, not inherent Black deficiencies.
Zora Neale Hurston
An influential anthropologist, folklorist, and writer who documented African American culture and linguistic expression through ethnographic fieldwork and celebrated Black vernacular in her literature.
Example:
Zora Neale Hurston traveled extensively through the South, collecting folklore and oral histories that enriched her understanding of Black cultural heritage.