After reading this article, I was very surprised how influential whites were towards African Americans without them even knowing it. In the beginning of this article it states hows "Negro art in American- 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 think in order for African Americans to feel accepted with their work and art, they had to write as though they were white. Its obvious that racial tension still existed during this time and to be successful you had to fit in and do what society wanted. The author mentions a great point at the end on the first page that "he" as the poet is never taught to to see his beauty but to be ashamed of it. It must be tough to grow up being told (by your family) that the white life is how you should live and want to live because you aren't accepted as an African American.
On the first page, the author gives examples of how the father refers to whites but unconsciously. He uses the white life as a guide for how he lives and how he raises his children. The author states "the whisper of "I want to be white" runs silently through their minds." It seems as though children during this time were taught about how to live like a white person rather than living and representing their culture and heritage. From the perspective of this father, it seems as though his goal is to blend in with the white society and try to forget about who he really is.
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I think in some ways Hughes 'impression' of the middle class African American home, shows a great deal of prejudice. It seems obvious he was angry, and felt that his writings and those of other black writters should reflect the African American experience, while Cullen wanted to wrtite universally.
I didnt think as much about the race issue, that seemed relaxed during hughes, but your write he did write about being white in his essay. I like Hughes view, but in some ways it is unrealistic for alot of african americans. Hughes view is great to me though. We need every different opionion to make this world what it is, and thats why I even appreciate what Cullen had to offer even though i didnt particulary like it.
I thought about that to in regards to this article. It's one of those things that seems obvious yet you dont realize it. Everything they were exposed to was "white",everything that was considered acceptable and correct was "white". They had been disadvantaged for so long that trying to fin in was consdiderd "wanting to be white".
Ya, When reading his article it did seem he was angry. He does reflect more within the racial peramiters than most of the other poets so far (like Cullen). It seems that his poetry, as well as the article, has to do more with racial themes apposed to universal.
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