Who is the "New Negro?"

Baldwin’s interpretation of the New Negro differs from Alain Locke’s in that the New Negro represent the “progressive era.” He starts to talk about Jack Johnson who became the first African American heavyweight champion. Jack Johnson destroyed the myth of white superiority and demolished the “Great White Hope.” Whites were always seen as the most intelligent and athletic, now they fear being inferior to Blacks. There is a reason why Tommy Burns did not want to fight Johnson. If he lost the title, it would now mean that a “negro” was the better. According to Baldwin the New Negro is more than an artist. Baldwin claims that the New Negro includes the artist along with athletes, singers, beauty culturists, etc. Jack Johnson became a worldwide symbol and example of ambition. Reverend Reverdy Ransom stated Jack Johnson accomplishments in the ring will now manifest into achievement for “negro” singers, poets, sculptors, and scholars. Now blacks will now challenge whites in every domain of human endeavor.

Alain Locke’s interpretation of the “New Negro” is slightly different. Locke believes that the New Negro is a part of the talented tenth. Individuals that work hard and are skilled truly represent the rebirth of the New Negro. For instance Alain Locke is a reliable figure to call to mind because of his upbringing and professional success. Locke excelled as a leader and a scholar at Central High School in Philadelphia. He enrolled in Harvard College in 1904 and focused on philosophy. When he finished his schooling, he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He also was named a Rhodes Scholar at Pennsylvania, and then studied at Oxford University. Locke success helped define what it meant to be a “New Negro.” Therefore in summary Locke interpreted the New Negro to represent the intellectuals. These intellectuals are the artists, scholars, poets…etc.

            The similarities between the artistic and entrepreneurial New Negro is that they try to eradicate the norms of African American. Blacks are portrayed as brutes, dumb, and violent. The artistic and entrepreneurial New Negro continues to destroy myths that have been in place for more than 300 years, while trying to claim respectability for the race.