Monday, February 27, 2012

The Racial Mountain

After reading Langston Hughes' manifesto for the Harlem Renaissance, please respond to the following questions with thoughtful analysis and use textual reference to support your assertions.

1. What do you infer was the purpose of the Harlem Renaissance, based on this essay?
2. What is Hughes' main argument about one's culture and heritage, and do you agree?
3. What is the racial mountain he refers to? Comment on Hughes' thesis in this essay?

DO NOT merely repeat what someone else has written. You need to read, analyze and speak for yourself.

17 comments:

  1. I think that a big purpose of the Harlem Renaissance was to try to get people to accept who they are and not be ashamed to show what and how they believe.

    Hughes main argument was that every culture and heritage are beautiful and they all have something to teach other people, the people in the culture or heritage just cant be afraid to tell people about it. He says "no great poet has ever been afraid of being himself." To me this means that if you want to be great at something you can't be ashamed at what you have to say and when you get enough courage to say what you need to, you need to stand strong behind it and not let others push you over!

    The racial mountain that he keeps referring to in this essay are the people or things that kept telling black people that they could not or would not succeed at be coming poets, artists or anything else that they set their mind to that they wanted to become.

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  2. 1. The purpose of the Harlem Renaissance was to destroy the boundaries that existed between blacks and whites and to make everyone as equal as possible thus conquering the racial barricade during that time.
    2. I think Hughes is trying to show that almost every minority is trying to be most like the majority overlooking their own natural talents, and abilities.
    3. The racial mountain that he refers to is that whites are on top of the mountain in the minds of most minorities and they are on the bottom, but I think Hughes is trying to show that the mountain is different for everyone and the only thing that stands between them and the top of their mountain is their own desires and ambitions.

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  3. 1) The purpose of the Harlem Renaissance was really to encourage black people and artists. Black people were able to produce works of art that could have been encouraging to others and as began to express their feelings/who they are through art, other people were encouraged not to be ashamed. "He is never taught to see that beauty. He is taught rather not to see it, or if he does, to be ashamed of it when it is not accordion to Caucasian patterns." This time period was meant to keep people from being ashamed and learn to express their beauty/who they are with confidence.
    2) Hughes thought that people should not be ashamed. When people are ashamed of themselves, they lack confidence and are left more susceptible to restrictions. "For the American Negro artist who can escape the restrictions the more advanced among his own group would put upon him, a great field of unused material ready for his art." Those with a positive, confident attitude--"I am a Negro--and beautiful!"--can overcome those restrictions and have the potential to do so much more. Not being ashamed can lead to so many great accomplishments.
    3) The mountain that Hughes talks about refers to all the criticism and hate that surrounds black artists. "The road for the serious black artist, then, whom would produce a racial art is most certainly rocky and the mountain high. Until recently he received almost no encouragement for his work form either white or colored people." People just didn't understand or encourage the black artists who were sometimes even hated. Those blacks had to jump over and climb those obstacles to reach the point where they could confidently find/express their own individuality despite all the criticism around them.

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  4. 1) The purpose of the Harlem Renaissance, based on The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain by Langston Hughes, was for African Americans to find themselves and conquer the racial mountain. In the beginning of the essay Langston Hughes talks about a young Negro poet who said, “I want to be a poet—not a Negro poet.” He explains how he felt sorry for that young man because “no great poet has ever been afraid of being himself.” I agree with how Hughes felt about the poet. I don’t think it should matter the color of someone’s skin, only what they produce. Throughout the rest of the essay Hughes talks about average African American families who are ashamed of their own race because they are conditioned to see themselves as lower than Caucasian people. But by the end he says, “We younger Negro artists who create now intend to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame… We know we are beautiful. And ugly too… We build our temples for tomorrow… and we stand on top of the mountain…” I think that Hughes is saying that African American artists are not going to be ashamed of whom they are anymore, and accept themselves as they are. By doing that they have conquered the racial mountain.
    2) I think that Hughes’ main argument about one’s culture and heritage is that families are conditioned into seeing Caucasian people as better than everyone else. In his essay he says, “In the home they read white papers and magazines. And the mother often says, ‘Don’t be like niggers’ when the children are bad. A frequent phrase from the father is, ‘Look how well a white man does things.’ And so the word white comes to be unconsciously a symbol of virtue.” If you grow up continuously hearing something you’re going to start believing it. Hughes also talks about the “low-down folks” and how they “do not particularly care whether they are like white folks or anybody else… And they accept what beauty is their own without question.” These people that Hughes refers to are different from the ones who were conditioned into thinking Caucasians are better because they don’t care who is better.
    3) The racial mountain is a metaphor for racial conflicts people have to overcome throughout their life. Hughes thesis talks about the different conflicts African Americans had to go through, “… this urge within the race toward whiteness, the desire to pour racial individuality into the mold of American standardization, and to be as little Negro and as much American as possible.” I believe that this was true for most African Americans. They struggled with the desire of being white and not black.

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  5. 1. The purpose of the Harlem Renaissance was to create a meaning behind Negro art. The Renaissance inspired individuality for Negro art and music and became beautiful in it’s own way. The movement during this time pushed minority groups to share creativity inspired by their lifestyle, culture and background. It drew a much-needed line between black and white ideas.
    2. Through out Hughes’ writing, his main argument is that people of minority groups should be proud of who they are. He says, “So I am ashamed for the black poet who says, "I want to be a poet, not a Negro poet," as though his own racial world were not as interesting as any other world.” Hughes’ encourages his black readers to embrace their culture and history, because it is unique and beautiful. If everyone in the world looked the same, what a boring world it would be! He describes how people of different cultures want to be white because white dominates our world, but its history isn’t as rich with stories like other cultures.
    3. The racial mountain that Hughes’ refers to is the diference between white people and black people. In the beginning of The Negro Artist and The Racial Mountain, Hughes’ describes a negro family teaching their children that “white” is what they should strive for. Negro children grew up believing they were worth less then the white people who ran society. The mountain represents a struggle against the classification and stereotypes of racism. Hughes’ wants his people to realize the power and value of their individual voice. He says, “And they accept what beauty is their own without question…for the American Negro artist who can escape the restrictions his own group would put upon him..” are great artists. For they are the ones who can climb the mountain.

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  6. 1.The purpose of the Harlem renaissance was to get colored people to embrace their heritage and to be proud of who they are. In the essay Hughes talks about how there were colored people who wanted to be just like the white people because they believed they were better. As said in the essay about the jazz and the clubwoman, "Yet the Philadelphia clubwoman is ashamed to say that her race created it and she does not like me to write about it. The old subconscious "white is best" runs through her mind." I think this shows how colored people thought of their race and what the Harlem Renaissance was trying to change.
    2.Langston’s main argument in this essay is that people should be proud of who they are and where they come from. Their culture and heritage is important and is not something to be ashamed of. The fact that no one should want to be anyone but themselves is something that I agree with. Colored people should not have wanted to be like whites because in a lot of ways whites weren’t better people. Their own culture had many great things to it especially during the Harlem Renaissance. In the essay Hughes describes he believes blacks should be saying, “Why should I want to be white? I am Negro—and beautiful!” I think that they should have been thinking this way because no one should want to be something they are not. No one should strive to copy someone else which is why originality is something that should be getting more attention.
    3.The racial mountain that Hughes is referring to is the restriction of Negro art. Hughes refers to the mountain in the essay as, “…this urge within the race toward whiteness, the desire to pour racial individuality into the mold of American standardization, and to be as little Negro and as much American as possible.” Since there are so many things that are preventing Negros to push further like the thought that whites are better than them and they should be like them are creating problems that have to be overcome. The racial mountain seems like it stands for all the conflicts that the colored people have to overcome in their lives.

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  7. 1. In reading "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain", I think his purpose was to show people that the line that is separating the black from white needs to be cut. Langston Hughes' purpose was to encourage "black artists and intellectuals to break free of the artificial standards set for them by whites". He wanted the black people to be who they are not what the whites consider them to be, through jazz, poetry, and other movements.
    2. His main argument in this essay was that black people were afraid to be themselves and rather be considered a white person. He pointed out that "an artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid too what he might choose". To me, I think Langston is saying, to be who you want to be, you must be yourself first and never be ashamed to be yourself, then set your mind on your ambition.
    3. The mountain that Langston refers to in this essay is the hierarchy between the two races, where the whites are at the top of the mountain while the blacks are at the bottom. When I first read the essay, I noticed that Langston got right to the point about the racial issue in the society they were living in.

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  8. 1) Based on the essay, the purpose of the Harlem Renaissance was to encourage Negroes to embrace their race and really be proud of who they are. In the essay, Langston Hughes talks about how a young Negro poet "wanted to be a poet-not a Negro poet." The Harlem Renaissance was all about flipping that point of view around and making the boy say "I want to be a Negro poet."
    2)Langston Highes' main argument about one's culture is that he really wanted people to be proud of who they are. The fact that when middle to upper class negro children were in trouble, the parents would scold them by telling them not to act like a Negro. This is the complete opposite from what Hughes would want to see. Also, I agree with this argument. I fully believe that one needs to fully embrace their culture and be proud of who they are.
    3)The "Racial Mountain" Hughes refers to represents the battle that must be won in order for Negros to become accepted or recognized in society. “...this urge within the race toward whiteness, the desire to pour racial individuality into the mold of American standardization, and to be as little Negro and as much American as possible.” This quote explains how Negroes need to stop wanting to be white and start wanting to peruse their life as a proud negro. Negros must take advantage of their uniqueness and be noticed/ accepted by society.

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  9. The purpose of the Harlem Renaissance was to spread the news to black folk that they didn't have to be white and being black is beautiful. The Harlem Renaissance was a way to grab the attention of the whites (and blacks who wanted to be white) and show them the beauty and power of black music and art. Whites and some blacks who said, "We want to worship the Lord correctly and quietly," were proven to be closed minded and drab by the Harlem Renaissance.

    Hughes argues that one should not hide their culture and heritage from their art just because, "The Negro artist works against an undertow of sharp criticism and misunderstanding from his own group and unintentional bribes from the whites." Everyone should embrace themselves, because one shouldn't be afraid of himself.

    The mountain referred to by Hughes is the struggle for blacks (and other people) to accept their individual voices. On the mountain, the blacks will face other blacks who are ashamed of them for exploiting too much "blackness" in their art and whites who will embrace their art but want to "contain" it so that it reaches a level of "whiteness". One can only climb over the mountain by," interpreting the beauty of his own people," and the beauty of himself.

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  10. I think the purpose of this writing was to empower Afican- Americans and to tell them that there is more out there for them. There is no need to limit themselves; they can do anything whites can do. This sounds a lot like the "Black Power" movement around the 50's. That's what this reminds me of, and I think someone NEEDED to write this. There was a lot of discouragement towards black, but this writing was not one of them. He wanted to be proud, he wanted to be BLACK. He said, "I want to be a negro poet." Not a white poet, not JUST a poet, but a negro poet.
    As was said before, his main argument is that blacks can do what whites can, and no one can stop them. "We're black, we're beautiful," was his kind of motto. No one should be ashamed of who they are.
    His metaphore of the mountain was quite simple. He means that African- Americans face obstacles, and a lot of uphill walking; but that doesn't mean there won't be an end to that. There is a downhill to every mountain, and everyone gets there somehow, their own way.

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    Replies
    1. I agree with the feeling of the 1950s' black power movement, it was the same sort of mentality of cultural pride and cultural strength that was prevalent in that time period. I feel that Langston Hughes started this trend of cultural pride and the wanting of equality for his people, but also to keep their heritage and culture close.

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  11. 1.Langston Hughes, throughout this piece, was all about Black Pride, and being proud of being a black writer, and using that as an advantage, and I agree. The Harlem Renaissance was a awakening of Black culture, and more importantly an opportunity for them to represent their own heritage, history, and society.

    2.I agree with Hughes, your culture and heritage, along with your own experiences IN that society, is what gives writers a voice. The perspective of the black community, that is what Hughes wants these writers to be proud of, and he wants them to use this Black cultural identity in their writing and to be proud of it.

    "Most of my own poems are racial in theme and treatment, derived from the life I know."

    3.The mountain represents many things, it is a social line/barrier, a struggle, a separation, and a shift of state of mind and perspective. The mountain, where the Blacks are at the bottom and whites at the top, represent the "wanting" of the black children to be white, of the whites repressing black speech, art and expression. It represents the stereotypes and prejudices that the higher up whites cast down upon the blacks.
    It is all about the mountain dividing the black and white cultures.

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  12. 1) Based on the essay "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain" I think the purpose of the Harlem Renaissance was for African Americans to find their true meaning of who they are. I think the Harlem Renaissance help African-Americans express themselves as a whole. They proved that they were equal to white men while showing off their talents. I find it ironic that white people came to see them after what happened earlier.
    2) I think Hughes' main argument about one's culture and heritage was that talent was not based on what you look like but how good you are at something. For instance look at football, just because someone is white doesn't mean they're going to make the team.
    3) I think what Hughes means by racial mountain is that stereotypes are hard to get over, like a mountain. People grow up with stereotypes they don't just learn them; therefore they are hard to unlearned since they have known them all their lives.

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  13. 1) Based on "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain" by Langston Hughes, I think that the purpose of the Harlem Renaissance was to create pride among the African American people. Hughes emphasized the importance of not just being a poet but being a "Negro poet." He sends the message of owning up and taking pride in who you are and where you come from. "And perhaps these common people will give to the world its truly great Negro artist, the one who is not afraid to be himself." Individuality and self confidence are very important in the time of the Harlem Renaissance.
    2)Hughes' main argument about one's culture and heritage is that one must embrace their culture and heritage. They must show people of other cultures and heritages that they are just as good. They must stand up and take pride in their own people.
    3)Hughes continually talks about a racial mountain that must be climbed. "We build our temples for tomorrow, strong as we know how, and we stand on top of the mountain, free within ourselves." The goal is to overcome diversity. Part of overcoming the diversity is being unified as a culture. Divided, the people will never make it to the top of the mountain, but together they stand free on top.

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  14. 1- This time period was every inprising to you all that lived it.
    2- This story was every much about taking in your color of skin.
    3- This montain could be the color problem that we have now and day.

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  15. 1) From what I have read, I feel the purpose of the Harlem Renaissance was to break down some racial barriers and to let people express themselves.
    2)Hughes explained that we all should be happy about who we are and where we came from. I think he is saying that we are all the same even though we may look different.
    3)The mountain Hughes is referring to is all the struggles and challenges that black people face when there trying to live there life. They weren't allowed to be artists or poets but the Harlem Renaissance changed all this and the black community got a little closer to the top of that mountain.

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  16. 1) After reading the story, the purpose that I took from The Harlem Renaissance was to encourage African Americans to embrace the aspects of their culture. Because for most African Americans of that time, throughout their entire life they were taught that the ways of white Americans were superior, and the only way to live. And when the new artists broke out of their shell, and became known, they began to recognize their own potential.
    2) In my opinion, the main argument that Hughes was trying to get across about one's heritage was to just accept your own culture, and embrace the person you truly are. At one point he says that in order to be the best person that you can be, you have to find your true inner self, and never change for anyone else.
    3) The Racial Mountain that Hughes refers to is symbolizing all of the tough times, and struggles that they had overcome throughout their entire life. Through that he implyed that you need to accept yourself for who you are, and never try to be something your not.

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