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Literary Qualities

Literary Qualities . By: Jessie Stadt Thomas Brophy Billy Coleman . Countee Cullen. Born 1903 in Kentucky, then moved into the middle of the Harlem Renaissance “If I am going to be a poet at all, I am going to be a Poet and not a Negro Poet” – Brooklyn Daily Eagle 1924.

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Literary Qualities

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  1. Literary Qualities By: Jessie Stadt Thomas Brophy Billy Coleman

  2. Countee Cullen • Born 1903 in Kentucky, then moved into the middle of the Harlem Renaissance • “If I am going to be a poet at all, I am going to be a Poet and not a Negro Poet” – Brooklyn Daily Eagle 1924

  3. Tableau • Locked arm in arm they cross the wayThe black boy and the white,The golden splendor of the dayThe sable pride of night.From lowered blinds the dark folk stareAnd here the fair folk talk,Indignant that these two should dareIn unison to walk.Oblivious to look and wordThey pass, and see no wonderThat lightning brilliant as a swordShould blaze the path of thunder.

  4. “Tableau” • Was written by Countee Cullen. • Stanza one shows the contrast between the black and white races • As the boys walk down the street the adults watch them in shock and disgust. • He boys don’t realize what their doing is abnormal. • “Lightning brilliant as a sword” • Generational Change.

  5. Claude McKay • Wrote “The Lynching” • Published by editor Frank Harris • Work in New York City • Life after WWI

  6. The Lynching His spirit in smoke ascended to high heaven. His father, by the cruelest was of pain, Had bidden him to his bosom once again; The awful sin remained still unforgiven. All night a bright and solitary star (Perchance the one that ever guided him, Yet gave him up at last to fate’s wild whim) Hung pitifully o’er the swinging char. Day, dawn, and soon the mixed crowds came to view The ghastly body swaying in the sun: The women thronged to look, but never a one Showed sorrow in her eyes of steely blue; And little lads, lynchers that were to be, Danced around the dreadful thing in fiendish glee.

  7. “The Lynching”-Claude McKay • “smoke ascended to high heaven” • Connection to Jesus • “Bright and solitary star”, “gave him up… to Fate’s wild whim” • Women have “eyes of steely blue” • Children are described as dancing with “fiendish glee”

  8. Qualities of Harlem Renaissance Writings • Identification with the Black race • most of the cultural ideas during this time period related to what African-American dealing with. • Militant proud spirit • Many African-Americans were angered about how they were being treated during the Harlem renaissance which led to groups to lash out with writing and created a spirit of unity.

  9. Anger at Racism • People were angered at the way race was determining how they were treated. • Determination to fight Oppression • Both of the world wars made people want freedom against oppressive governments • Rejection of White Culture • African-Americans’ anger toward whites made them not want to conform to white culture

  10. Attempt to Reconstruct an invisible heritage • Their culture, language, beliefs were taken from them during slavery and now they had the chance to rebuild it.

  11. Subjects and Thematic Topics • Lynching • This was the murder of a person for no apparent reason. Most of the community supported it, therefore there was no report of it. • Prejudice • The rejection of a person because of race, ethnicity, or background

  12. Stereotyping • The generalization of a group based on a few individual’s actions • White Culture Imperialism • This is the forcing of white beliefs onto everyone • Assertion of Rights • African-Americans of the time started to fight for their civil rights by speaking out more frequently and beginning to organize.

  13. Beauty of their color • African-Americans of the time wanted to show that black was not necessarily evil by adding elements in their writing that made darkness a beautiful or nice thing to have. • Strength of African ancestors/ Black culture • Their ancestors went through slavery and hardships which made them stronger as a people.

  14. Citations • Cohassey, John. “Claude McKay.” 6. Detroit, United States: Gale Research Inc., 1994. • Cohassey, John. “Countee Cullen.” 8. Detroit, United States: Gale Research Inc., 1994.

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