Each year, February greets us with the opportunity to acknowledge the historical impact of African-Americans with an entire month dedicated to celebrate their accomplishments and recognize their impact on society. Posters of Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Robinson, and Rosa Parks cover the walls of our schools, while television programs flash images of these figures on our screens between commercials. The dedication was originally established in 1926 as Negro History week, but was later extended to the entire month of February in the 1970s.
Noble in its advent, this commemoration has seemingly hit a wall. As children move from grade to grade they encounter the same figures, with little to no knowledge of the lessons other important, but lesser known, black figures have to offer. Albeit important to keep these same figures in the front of our minds, this yearly celebration seldom offers the teachings or recognizes the impact of lesser known black figures—figures whose teachings could have a powerful impact on the youth of our society as they develop into adults.
Few have heard of David Walker and his Appeal in Four Articles, which acknowledged the contradictions of Christian slave owners in 1830.
Seldom is Arthur Schomburg’s life-long research into African-American history noted; for without Schmoburg, an insurmountable amount of black history would be lost. These, and countless other African-Americans, have been placed on the bookshelves, left to gather dust, while Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jackson, and Will Smith garner national attention as some of the most prominent African-American figures in our society today.
Not to be misunderstood, there is nothing wrong with Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith. Personal feelings aside, the music and performances of Michael Jackson are highly entertaining. But what are we learning from these African-American figures that makes them particularly unique in the African-American community of today’s society? What message do they send to society that other celebrities neglect to send? The media and our schools became lazy with this month and fail to give it its due celebration. I guess it’s easier to sell Black History Month with Michael Jordan than it is with Claude McKay. But continuing to forget specific figures takes away from the development of all walks of life.
In 1925, Alain Locke edited The New Negro, which was a publication of poems and essays from prominent black writers during the Harlem Renaissance. In it, Locke recognizes the Harlem Renaissance as the perfect opportunity to cast away the negative stereotypes that have plagued African-Americans throughout their history in America. His message to African-Americans is simple: recreate your image.
By gaining recognition in the arts, African-Americans had the ability to redirect the awful misconceptions understood by white society, and establish a new identity in America. With time and effort, the negative stereotypes that prevented an understanding of equality, could be defeated, and a “new negro” would be born. Locke referred to this as “spiritual emancipation” and he beseeched all African-Americans to seize this opportunity and understand the greatness of their culture. Only with this belief can the black youth of the 1920s begin to realize that they are equal in society, and he implored his race to prove it. Locke further taught that working toward a new identity begets pride; and pride in one’s culture begets a rise from oppression and a demand for justice and equal rights.
Alain Locke has something to teach all of us, regardless of race, creed, gender, or religion: we have, at our behest, the ability to cast away negative stereotypes and control the image that we want to portray; thus, Locke’s teachings transcend that of the “new negro” in which he spoke of in 1925. We have the ability to do this at an individual level and at a community level. The lessons Locke gave to early twentieth-century African-Americans can be and should be embraced by each individual of today’s society, and doing so can only work towards the advancement and pride of all races and of the whole of humanity.
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