The central idea of my final project will be how the representation and self-image of group of people and their culture is an important factor in their socioeconomic gain and cultural success. I’ve learned, by reading through these works of literature written during this era, the kinds of self-image the communities where the Harlem Renaissance took place in possessed helped them become successful. The emphasis of my post will be to breakdown and explain how representation and self-image were deeply correlated with racial self-esteem. It isn’t difficult to see there were issues of racial self-esteem present during this era. Being as black people in this era had their humanity and history taken from them and were told that they were descendants of no important people , just slaves. I will show cases of prominent black figures who felt this way as well, because there were in fact plenty. Including W.E.B. DuBois, who worked hard in improving the representation and self-image of black people of his time by establishing The Crisis magazine and being involved in establishing the NAACP. This issue of a lack of racial self-esteem stood out to me because it seems that black people in the 21st century still struggle with this case of self-image and representation. People of this era had way more limitations in opportunity than anybody living in the 21st century could ever imagine, yet they were fearless, bold, and courageous. The kind of bold and fearless attitude Alain Locke had when he claimed there was going to be “a new negro” in that oppressive era is the kind of attitude black people today need to have in order to see socioeconomic and cultural success. Instead of the victimhood mentality that these communities of color publicize.
For my project, I have a number of primary sources to choose from. I will use several sources from Survey Graphics, such as “The New Negro” by Alain Locke and other works of literature. I will also use works from “Fire!!”. Finally, I will use sources from the Newman Library database. I hope I can use these sources to enlighten the reader about my post; which will be titled “The Power of Self-Perception”.