Glossary
African American Studies programs
Academic disciplines established in universities to provide interdisciplinary study of Black history, culture, and politics, significantly influenced by the Black Arts Movement.
Example:
The demand for relevant education led to the creation of African American Studies programs across universities, offering courses on Black literature, history, and sociology.
Amiri Baraka
A prominent figure of the Black Arts Movement, known for his influential plays, poetry, and essays that advocated for Black liberation and self-determination.
Example:
Amiri Baraka's powerful and often controversial writings were central to defining the aesthetic and political aims of the Black Arts Movement.
Black Arts Movement (BAM)
A cultural revolution from the 1960s-1970s that empowered Black artists to use their work as a tool for liberation, unifying diverse styles and mediums to uplift and empower Black communities.
Example:
During the 1960s, the Black Arts Movement (BAM) emerged as a powerful artistic and political force, inspiring poets like Nikki Giovanni to write works that celebrated Black identity and challenged racial injustice.
Black Arts Repertory Theatre/School
A cultural institution founded by Amiri Baraka, serving as a key center for Black artistic expression and community engagement during the Black Arts Movement.
Example:
The Black Arts Repertory Theatre/School provided a space for Black playwrights and actors to develop and perform works that spoke directly to the Black experience.
Black Cultural Production
The creation of art, literature, music, and other cultural forms by Black artists, often drawing from African and African American traditions and experiences.
Example:
The flourishing of jazz and blues music in the early 20th century is a prime example of rich Black cultural production.
Black World
A magazine that served as an important intellectual and cultural forum during the Black Arts Movement, featuring articles, essays, and poetry by Black writers.
Example:
Readers turned to Black World magazine for insightful commentary on contemporary Black politics, culture, and art.
Black is Beautiful movement
A cultural movement of the 1960s that affirmed Black identity, challenged Eurocentric beauty standards, and promoted cultural pride and self-acceptance among African Americans.
Example:
The Black is Beautiful movement encouraged individuals to embrace their natural hair and skin tones, fostering a sense of pride in their heritage.
Black vernacular
The everyday language, speech patterns, and cultural expressions specific to Black communities, which the Black Arts Movement embraced in its artistic forms.
Example:
Poets like Langston Hughes often incorporated Black vernacular into their work, giving voice to the authentic experiences of African Americans.
Black-owned and operated cultural institutions
Organizations, publishing houses, theaters, and museums founded and managed by Black individuals to promote and preserve Black culture and art.
Example:
The establishment of the Studio Museum in Harlem was a crucial step in creating Black-owned and operated cultural institutions dedicated to showcasing African American art.
Broadside Press
An independent Black-owned publishing house founded during the Black Arts Movement, crucial for publishing works by Black poets and writers.
Example:
Broadside Press played a vital role in disseminating the voices of Black Arts Movement poets who might have been overlooked by mainstream publishers.
Cultural Revolution
A profound and rapid transformation of a society's culture, often driven by artistic and intellectual movements, as seen with the Black Arts Movement's aim to redefine Black identity.
Example:
The rise of hip-hop in the 1980s marked a significant cultural revolution, shifting music, fashion, and language for a generation.
Elizabeth Catlett
A renowned sculptor and printmaker whose work, including 'Negro es Bello,' powerfully affirmed Black identity and challenged racial injustice, embodying the spirit of the Black Arts Movement.
Example:
Elizabeth Catlett's sculptures often depicted strong Black women, celebrating their resilience and beauty.
Embracing
A core principle of the Black Arts Movement that involved actively adopting and celebrating African and African American traditions, histories, and experiences in artistic expression.
Example:
Artists began embracing traditional African patterns and storytelling techniques, weaving them into contemporary art forms.
Eurocentric standards
Artistic or cultural norms and values derived primarily from European traditions, which the Black Arts Movement actively rejected in favor of Black aesthetics.
Example:
Many artists challenged the dominance of Eurocentric standards in art history by highlighting the beauty and complexity of African art forms.
Galvanized
To shock or excite someone into taking action, often used to describe how the Black Arts Movement energized Black artists, writers, and musicians.
Example:
The powerful speeches of Malcolm X galvanized a new generation of activists to demand immediate change.
Harlem Renaissance
An influential cultural movement of the 1920s that celebrated Black culture and identity, serving as a precursor to the Black Arts Movement's emphasis on Black cultural production.
Example:
Langston Hughes's poetry was a cornerstone of the Harlem Renaissance, showcasing the vibrancy of Black intellectual and artistic life in the 1920s.
Journal of Black Poetry
A scholarly journal that emerged during the Black Arts Movement, providing a platform for Black poets and critical discourse on Black literature.
Example:
The Journal of Black Poetry was instrumental in documenting and analyzing the burgeoning poetic output of the Black Arts Movement.
Negro es Bello
A 1969 artwork by Elizabeth Catlett, meaning 'Black is Beautiful' in Spanish, which visually encapsulates the spirit of the Black is Beautiful movement and affirms Black identity.
Example:
Elizabeth Catlett's powerful print, 'Negro es Bello', became an iconic image of the Black is Beautiful movement, celebrating Black features and challenging conventional beauty norms.
New Negro
A term from the Harlem Renaissance signifying a shift in Black identity towards self-assertion, pride, and cultural awareness, challenging previous stereotypes.
Example:
Alain Locke's anthology 'The New Negro' articulated a vision of Black Americans as active agents in their own cultural and political destiny.
Nikki Giovanni
A celebrated poet, writer, and activist associated with the Black Arts Movement, whose work often explored themes of race, family, and social justice.
Example:
Nikki Giovanni's accessible yet profound poetry resonated widely, making her a beloved voice of the Black Arts Movement.
Political Tool
Art or cultural expression used as a means to achieve specific political goals, such as liberation or social change, a core principle of the Black Arts Movement.
Example:
Many protest songs from the Civil Rights era served as a powerful political tool, rallying support and expressing the collective desire for equality.
Rejection
A key principle of the Black Arts Movement involving the conscious dismissal of Eurocentric standards of beauty and artistic value in favor of Black aesthetics.
Example:
The rejection of mainstream beauty ideals led to a celebration of natural hair and diverse body types within the Black community.
Self-determination
A principle promoted by the Black Arts Movement emphasizing the right and ability of Black communities to define their own identity, culture, and destiny, free from external control.
Example:
The push for community-controlled schools was a clear act of self-determination, allowing local residents to shape their children's education.
Sonia Sanchez
An acclaimed poet and key figure in the Black Arts Movement, known for her innovative use of Black vernacular and her focus on themes of Black identity and struggle.
Example:
Sonia Sanchez's rhythmic poetry often incorporated elements of jazz and blues, reflecting the musicality of Black language and culture.
Studio Museum in Harlem
A prominent art museum established during the Black Arts Movement, dedicated to collecting, preserving, and exhibiting the art of artists of African descent.
Example:
The Studio Museum in Harlem became a vital hub for Black artists, offering exhibition space and fostering community.
Third World Press
An independent Black-owned publishing house established during the Black Arts Movement, dedicated to publishing literature by and about people of African descent.
Example:
Through Third World Press, many emerging Black authors found a platform to share their stories and perspectives with a wider audience.
Upliftment
A core principle of the Black Arts Movement focused on empowering and improving the social, economic, and cultural status of Black communities through art.
Example:
Through community murals and public performances, artists aimed for the upliftment of local neighborhoods, fostering pride and solidarity.