Harlem Literature

The three pieces of literature that we were required to read for the January 20th class are very interesting. Alain Locke's The New Negro talked about the black man's evolution of thinking from that of inferiority and imitation to that of confidence and equality with other races. This quote from The New Negro is very profound and informs readers of this evolution from that of sympathetic plight and servitude into this evolved of the black male, "The intelligent Negro of today is resolved not to make discrimination an extenuation for his shortcomings in performance, individual or collective; he is trying to hold himself at par, neither inflated by sentimental allowances nor depreciated by current social dicounts. For this he must know himself and be known for precisely what he is, and for that reason he welcomes the new scientific rather than the old sentimental interest." The Criteria of Negro Art speaks of the necessary during this time period (1920's) to imitate Caucasian literature and art by Negro artists in order for it to be accepted and for them to earn a living and how it is asking for originality from the artists and their beking true to themselves. I believe that the true spirit of being an artist of any kind is in being true to yourself and your imagination which is the architect of the aspect of art that you create. The City of Refuge is a satirical piece because of the title where this "haven" brings about the downfall of a man from the South as he encounters a despicable individual upon his initial entrance into Harlem, New York.