#AP African American Studies: The New Negro Movement - Your Ultimate Study Guide

Hey there! Let's get you prepped and confident for your AP exam. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource, especially the night before the test. We'll break down the key concepts of the New Negro Movement, make connections, and give you some killer strategies to ace this thing. Let's do this! 💪

#The Genesis of the New Negro Movement

#Context: The Nadir of Race Relations

• The New Negro Movement emerged during a period of intense racial oppression known as the nadir.
• This era was marked by widespread violence, segregation, and disenfranchisement of African Americans.

#Core Idea: Self-Definition and Black Aesthetics

• The movement encouraged African Americans to define their own identity and create a distinct Black aesthetic.
• This was a direct challenge to the prevailing racist stereotypes and narratives.
• It emphasized self-determination and agency in the face of oppression.

Caption: Aaron Douglas's 'Aspirations' exemplifies the artistic vision of the New Negro Movement, blending African motifs with modernism.

#Key Components of the New Negro Movement

#Cultural Revolution

• The movement spurred a cultural revolution through innovations in various art forms:
  • Music: Blues and jazz became powerful expressions of Black life.
  • Visual Art: Painters like Aaron Douglas incorporated African motifs and modern styles.
  • Literature: Writers like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston explored Black experiences with authenticity.
• These artistic innovations served as counternarratives to racist stereotypes.

#The Harlem Renaissance

• The Harlem Renaissance was a major component of the New Negro Movement.
• It was a flourishing of Black literary, artistic, and intellectual life centered in Harlem, New York.
• It included influential figures like:
  • Writers: Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes
  • Musicians: Duke Ellington
  • Artists: Jacob Lawrence

Caption: Jacob Lawrence's 'Migration Series' captures the experiences of African Americans moving from the South to urban centers.

#Migration and Urban Centers

• The movement reflected the migrations of African Americans from the South to urban centers like:
  • Harlem, New York
  • Chicago, Illinois
• These urban centers became hubs for Black cultural expression and activism.

#Political Scope and Self-Definition

#Black Aesthetics as Self-Definition

• Black aesthetics were central to self-definition among African Americans.
• Alain Locke argued that creating a unique Black aesthetic was essential for empowerment.
• He emphasized the importance of shifting the "inner mastery of mood and spirit."
• Locke challenged the idea that Black artists should only create art for the purpose of representation.

#Alain Locke's Influence

• Alain Locke was the first African American Rhodes Scholar.
• His philosophical studies at Oxford University heavily influenced his ideas on Black aesthetics.
• He believed that the New Negro was not a fixed identity but a process of becoming.
• He emphasized self-expression and creativity as crucial for shaping Black identity.

#Rejecting the Burden of Representation

• Locke encouraged young Black artists to reject the burden of being sole representatives of their race.
• He argued against the idea that Black art should solely serve a political or representational purpose.
• Instead, he emphasized the value of artistic freedom and self-expression.

#Required Sources: Deep Dive

#Alain Locke, The New Negro: An Interpretation (1925)

• This anthology marked a watershed moment in African American cultural history.
• It introduced a new vision of Black identity, rejecting old stereotypes.
• It showcased the talents of Black writers, poets, and thinkers, catalyzing the Harlem Renaissance.

#Key Ideas from Locke's Introduction:

• Emergence of the "New Negro": A significant shift in African American identity and consciousness.
  • Quote: "In the last decade something beyond the watch and guard of statistics has happened..."
• Rejection of Stereotypes: Previous perceptions of African Americans were based on myths.
  • Quote: "The Old Negro, we must remember, was a creature of moral debate..."
• Shift in Self-Perception: A newfound sense of self-respect and independence.
  • Quote: "The mind of the Negro seems suddenly to have slipped from under the tyranny of social intimidation..."
• New Phase of Community Development: Positive transformation driven by internal changes.
  • Quote: "With this renewed self-respect and self-dependence, the life of the Negro community is bound to enter a new dynamic phase..."
• Outdated Nature of Racial Stereotypes: Old caricatures are no longer relevant.
  • Quote: "The day of 'aunties,' 'uncles' and 'mammies' is equally gone..."
• Changing Demographics: Migration has shifted the context of racial issues.
  • Quote: "A main change has been, of course, that shifting of the Negro population..."
• Call for a New Approach: More nuanced understanding of African American experiences.
  • Quote: "And finally, with the Negro rapidly in process of class differentiation..."

#Langston Hughes, "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain" (1926)

• Hughes's essay explores the challenges faced by African American artists.
• He critiques the tendency to conform to white artistic standards.
• He argues for embracing distinctly African American experiences in art.

#Key Ideas from Hughes's Essay:

• Conflict Between Identity and Expression: Internal struggle to conform to white standards.
  • Quote: "I want to be a poet—not a Negro poet..."
• Influence of Middle-Class Upbringing: Some families inadvertently instill a preference for white culture.
  • Quote: "And so the word white comes to be unconsciously a symbol of all virtues..."
• Celebration of Common Culture: Authenticity of working-class African American culture.
  • Quote: "These common people are not afraid of spirituals..."
• Challenges Faced by Artists: Pressures from both the Black community and white society.
  • Quote: "The Negro artist works against an undertow of sharp criticism and misunderstanding..."
• Importance of Racial Identity: Creating art that reflects authentic experiences.
  • Quote: "Most of my own poems are racial in theme and treatment..."
• Call for Artistic Freedom: Courage in expressing one's true self.
  • Quote: "An artist must be free to choose what he does..."
• Vision for a New Movement: Artists who embrace their identity and create art on their own terms.
  • Quote: "We younger Negro artists who create now intend to express our individual dark-skinned selves..."

#Final Exam Focus

#High-Priority Topics

• Self-definition and agency: How the New Negro Movement empowered African Americans.
• Black aesthetics: The importance of creating a unique artistic identity.
• The Harlem Renaissance: Its key figures and cultural impact.
• Alain Locke's philosophy: His ideas on self-expression and empowerment.
• Langston Hughes's critique: His call for authentic representation.

The New Negro Movement is a high-value topic, often appearing in both MCQs and FRQs. Make sure you understand the nuances of its cultural and political impact.

#Common Question Types

• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
  • Expect questions on key figures, artistic movements, and the historical context.
  • Look for questions that ask you to analyze quotes from Locke and Hughes.
• Short Answer Questions (SAQs):
  • Be prepared to explain the significance of the Harlem Renaissance or the concept of Black aesthetics.
  • Practice connecting the New Negro Movement to broader themes of identity and resistance.
• Free Response Questions (FRQs):
  • FRQs often ask you to analyze the impact of the movement on African American identity and culture.
  • Practice writing thesis statements that address the complexity of the movement.
  • Use evidence from the provided sources and your own knowledge to support your arguments.

#Last-Minute Tips

• Time Management: Allocate your time wisely, don't spend too long on any one question.
• Common Pitfalls: Avoid oversimplifying complex ideas, be sure to provide specific evidence.
• Strategies: Read the questions carefully, plan your responses, and always support your claims with evidence.

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following best describes the primary goal of the New Negro Movement? (A) To advocate for complete racial integration in all aspects of American life. (B) To encourage African Americans to assimilate into mainstream white culture. (C) To promote self-definition and the creation of a distinct Black aesthetic. (D) To focus solely on political activism and legal challenges to segregation.

2. Alain Locke's philosophy regarding the New Negro Movement emphasized which of the following? (A) The importance of Black artists creating art solely for the purpose of political representation. (B) The need for African Americans to adhere to traditional European artistic standards. (C) The development of a unique Black aesthetic as crucial for self-definition and empowerment. (D) The rejection of all forms of artistic expression in favor of direct political action.

3. Langston Hughes's essay "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain" primarily critiques: (A) The tendency of some Black artists to conform to white artistic standards. (B) The lack of support for Black artists from the white community. (C) The use of traditional African art forms by Black artists. (D) The failure of the Harlem Renaissance to achieve its goals.

#Free Response Question

Prompt: Analyze the ways in which the New Negro Movement sought to redefine African American identity and challenge existing racial stereotypes. In your response, be sure to refer to the ideas of Alain Locke and Langston Hughes, as well as specific examples from the cultural and artistic innovations of the period.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): A clear, defensible thesis statement that addresses the prompt.
  • Example: "The New Negro Movement sought to redefine African American identity and challenge existing racial stereotypes through the promotion of self-definition, the creation of a distinct Black aesthetic, and the rejection of assimilationist tendencies, as articulated by key figures like Alain Locke and Langston Hughes."
• Contextualization (1 point): An understanding of the historical context of the New Negro Movement.
  • Example: "The New Negro Movement emerged during a period of intense racial oppression known as the nadir, which included widespread violence, segregation, and disenfranchisement of African Americans."
• Evidence and Analysis (4 points): Specific examples and analysis of the movement’s impact on identity and stereotypes.
  • Alain Locke: Discussion of his philosophy on self-definition and the importance of a Black aesthetic. (1 point)
  • Langston Hughes: Analysis of his critique of Black artists conforming to white standards and his call for authentic representation. (1 point)
  • Cultural and Artistic Innovations: Specific examples from music, visual art, and literature that challenged stereotypes and promoted new narratives. (2 points)
    • Examples: Blues and jazz, the art of Aaron Douglas, the literature of Zora Neale Hurston.
• Synthesis (1 point): Connecting the New Negro Movement to broader themes of identity, resistance, and cultural change.
  • Example: "The New Negro Movement was not only a cultural and artistic revolution but also a form of resistance against systemic racism, laying the groundwork for future civil rights movements."

You got this! Remember, the key is to understand the core concepts, connect them to the historical context, and use evidence to support your claims. Go get that 5! 🚀