In Chicago's New Negroes, Davarian L. Baldwin provides a different interpretation of the New Negro. He argues, "the term 'New Negro' is associated with the literary and visual artists and intellectuals of the Harlem Renaissance" (5), which is similar to the work of Alain Locke's The New Negro. Despite the scholarship of the New Negro that focuses on the Negro artist and intellectual, Baldwin forms a different interpretation of the New Negro. In his introduction chapter he states that he "examines the mass consumer market as a crucial site of intellectual life" (5). Therefore, Baldwin's interpretation of New Negro differs from that of Locke. He offers that there needs to be an exploration of the relationship between consumer culture and the black intellectual.
According to Baldwin the first New Negro was American heavyweight champion, Jack Johnson. Baldwin choosing Jack Johnson as the embodiment of the New Negro, challenges the general belief that the New Negro was an artist (writer, painter, poet, intellectual etc.). Subsequently, he creates a new narrative of the New Negro, as the non-elite being the embodiment of the New Negro, not a talented tenth, artists, writers, and intellectuals. This is vastly different from the Alain Locke text. In fact, Baldwin contests that narrative by offering that artists and intellectuals were more like mirrors reflecting the change consciousness rather than creating it.
Nonetheless, there are similarities between Locke’s The New Negro and Baldwin’s Chicago’s New Negroes. Baldwin makes use of Reverend Reverdy Ranson statement “What Jack Johnson seeks to do to Jeffries in the roped area will be more the ambition of negroes in every domain of human endeavor”, which demonstrates that the New Negro spirit resonates in both a figure like Jack Johnson as well as the Negro artist. In addition, both the artist and fighter share the commonality of undermining white hegemony. Similarly, both figures destroy racial hierarchies. In closing, the entrepreneur, the boxer, the writer, the painter, and the intellectual all embody the idea of being free of white control and being free internally and mentally.
This is a very good blog I love how you critique Baldwin interpretation of the New Negro will also offering Locke as not a substitute but rather another way to view the soul of the New negro. I also think that it is quite possible to combine both definitions to create a new soul that fosters both definitions.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your blog
I found your post very interesting Ashley. The part you mentioned about both the artist and Jack Johnson's commonality of undermining white hegemony made me think, if todays New Negro has any commonalities? We all can for the most part agree Hip Hop has a heavy influence in our American and Black culture. However, I wonder if it speaks for the New Negro with a commonality of trying to undermine the white hegemony along side the intellectuals? I am not downgrading hip hop but only asking to what extent does it really attempt to challenge the hegemony? Apologies for getting aside from your point but this thought came through reading your post.
ReplyDeleteInteresting.
Abrham
Ashley I had a lot of the same ideas about the comparisons and differences between the authors. I think especially with our discussion in class about Baldwin's reasons for why Jack Johnson would be considered the first "New Negro" really brought the idea home about undermining hegemony and racial hierarchy. I'm glad to see we were on the same page and what I was getting from the text was similar to you, good job.
ReplyDeleteI like how you stated, “In addition, both the artist and fighter share the commonality of undermining white hegemony. Similarly, both figures destroy racial hierarchies.” People need to understand that both interpretations of the New Negro brought a form of resistance to society, whether it is direct or indirect, to bring about substantive societal change. Bashir I agree with you when you mentioned Locke’s interpretation is not meant to substitute Baldwin’s interpretation and vice versa. These interpretations are simply ways to view the New Negro’s varied perspectives, for black people are not a monolithic people. I believe the New Negro is a fusion of both Locke’s and Baldwin’s interpretations of the New Negro.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone. Thanks for additional insight.
ReplyDeleteTo Abrham: I plan on tackling that issue in my research paper and explore the ways in which Hip Hop exemplifies/exemplified the New Negro.