The New Negro

The New Negro is the idea of a transformed African American identity that rejects the stereotypes and oppressive limitations of the past. The New Negro as Locke describes it is self-confident proud and intellectually empowered seeking to assert a positive and autonomous identity in contrast to the subjugation and discrimination of earlier periods. Locke emphasizes the importance of cultural pride social and political activism and a commitment to higher education and intellectual engagement. The anthology includes contributions from some of the most prominent African American figures of the time including Langston Hughes Zora Neale Hurston W.E.B. Du Bois and Countee Cullen. Their writings along with Locke's philosophical reflections helped to redefine the social and cultural narrative of African Americans and provided the intellectual foundation for the Harlem Renaissance movement. The New Negro is a critical work that highlights the role of African American artists intellectuals and activists in shaping a new cultural and social order during the 1920s and it remains a key text in understanding the evolution of African American thought and culture.