A REVOLUTIONARY WAY OF THINKING
AMBER SMITH
WARNER PACIFIC COLLEGE

A REVOLUTIONARY WAY OF THINKING

THE NEW NEGRO, BY ALAIN LOCKE
The vision and integrity displayed in Alain Locke’s The New Negro is nothing short of revolutionary. Locke writes: With each successive wave of it, the movement of the Negro becomes more and more a mass movement toward the larger and the more democratic chance---in the Negro’s case a deliberate flight not only from countryside to city, but from medieval America to modern. (Locke, 1925, pp. 1284-1288) I read this prose and felt an overwhelming rush of emotions that tangled through my mind and touched my soul. I have never understood why it was so hard for people from past times to be so intolerant and unaccepting of physical and cultural differences. This is an issue that has puzzled me for most of my life. Reading this piece of history was especially meaningful to me because I lack understanding in this issue. For me the idea of changing and adapting to life is difficult, but necessary to ensure growth of the mind and overall well-being. Locke is explaining a way that people can change, adapt, and grow in a new existence for all Americans, black or white. He does specifically address African-Americans but I felt that his message could be helpful to all Americans during such a revolutionary time in history.
This re-location of African-Americans is a “new vision of opportunity, of social and economic freedom” (Locke, 1925) for the African American people. Locke reflectively see’s Harlem as a cultural melting pot of “so many diverse elements of Negro life”. (Locke, 1925) He believes that the coming together of so many African-Americans is an opportunity for “group expression and self-determination”. (Locke, 1925) When Locke states that, “The American mind must reckon with a fundamentally changed Negro.” I believe he was talking about “white America” from the poor man to the president of the United States. I believe his message is that the masses of white Americans should accept that the African is now an African-American and sits side by side with the same freedoms as everyone else. However, we know now that this was a much harder idea to realize. His message was, and still is, very powerful in its ideal. For myself, it was a brilliant way to view the process of a new way of thinking. I viewed this prose as a beautiful, and very deeply thought-out instructional piece.
I agree with the way Locke felt that it was partly the responsibility of these new Americans to adjust in such a way that is positive. He did not want them to develop a sad demeanor with a hatred toward whites for what had been done [slavery]. He expresses this in his statement, “We wish our race pride to be a healthier, more positive achievement than a feeling based upon a realization of the shortcomings of others.” (Locke, 1925). I also felt this idea come through when he said; “Only the steadying and sobering effect of a truly characteristic gentleness of spirit prevents the rapid rise of a definite cynicism and counter-hate and a defiant superiority feeling.”(Locke, 1925). It is apparent that this was not the case for some African-Americans. This is both sad and understandable considering how they had been wronged. However, this way of thinking that Locke was proposing was not unattainable, but in fact improbable. The reason I say this is because I am aware of the outcome in times present. There was no way to force people to accept people, it had to be mutual.
When I read this prose, I felt his words resonate inside me. I had an idea of what his vision was with the gift of hindsight, which I completely agree with. His ideas were so grand and to think of such things for an entire race of people is indeed revolutionary. Especially in times of such hate and fear in America. He was brilliant in his ideals and confidence in Americans, which is the kind of uplifting, forward thinking that was necessary in America