What does Alain Locke mean when he says, "The day of 'aunties.' 'uncles,' and 'mammies' is equally gone."? Why does he say this?
Put quite simply, Locke means that the days of slavery are truly over for African Americans and that now they must make changes to better themselves. Even though they have some hardships ahead of them, the worst days are behind them. The “New Negro” he talks about is coming through in all the ways possible, and Locke wants them to realize it.
Alain Locke wants this new generation to go through a transformation away from this concept of slavery. He wants his people to rise up and realize that they are going to be better than they ever expected. He wants them to put this idea of being an ex-slave behind them and focus on being a new person. Rather than to dwell on the past, he wanted them to make a new life for themselves.
A main point for Locke was for this New Negro to be intelligent. Intelligence is a key to so many doors, even today, that Locke felt his people needed to have in order to succeed in life. Intelligence would allow African Americans to look forward, instead of backward, and overcome all of the psychological speed bumps they have encountered before this time.
Locke says this because he believes it is time for African Americans to step up and realize their dream to be their own race. No longer should African American’s be the “wrong doer” of this society, they should come to realize that they are not the problem in this equation. African American’s should become and independent race, and should put this past idea of being slaves in any way behind them.
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I would also mention the reformation of culture and abolition of Southern stereotypes.
ReplyDeleteWhat Liz said. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is not a message directed solely at African Americans. Locke is telling white Americans, particularly southerners who insisted on referring to African Americans with derogatory terms like "auntie" and "mammy" that the subservient, submissive Negro they are used to (or have forced, through violence and lack of opportunity, into being) is gone.
I'm glad that you saw intelligence as the way to get ahead. You saw where Locke was going.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with the first part of your reaction. I felt lock was trying to express those feelings aswell. I felt He was talking more toward black southerners as well, but hey i'm not the proff.
ReplyDeleteI think it was more than just coming out of the slave days, it was also the days of discrimination and inferiority after they were free. The New Negro was about independence and stepping out of the hold whites still had on them. In my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI agree with that whole transformation into something totally new that you spoke about. How the whole concept of slavery needed to be forgotten, because it was time for them to pave the way for something new.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your first paragraph, specifically the ending of the first paragraph. But I also agree with the beginning part.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that intelligence and advancing education was one of the most pivotal points of creating the New Negro was very well stated in your post. I hadn't quite thought about exactly how much it was the newfound importance placed in education that really gave African Americans the upper hand to advance in society.
ReplyDelete