ENGL 281 Lecture Notes - Lecture 41: African-American Art, Langston Hughes, Social Forces
George S. Schuyler (1895-1977): The Negro-Art Hokum
Journalist that argues that there was such a thing as black art or sensibility, in that blacks and whites
were equally diverse, having brought up in the same ways, same education and values
Talks partially in response to Langston Hughes and other individuals such as DuBois in saying that
African American art is in any way different from any other form of art
Strips away from the idea of individuality and even ignores the idea that blacks had
experiences something that truly no one ever had before
• Argues that Negro art “made in America” is nonexistent
o Says blacks are just as American as whites, for all talk the same and have shared on
same history for over 300 years
“The Aframerican is subject to the same economic and social forces that mold the actions and
thoughts of white Americans.”
Cannot possibly be so, because meanwhile they are exposed to the same economic and social forces,
they are not exerted in the same way towards both colored Americans
OTHER SIDE:
• African American art is white washed, thus it tailors to what White America wants to see
There is something
Lil’ Pump discourse: when looking at him, listening to him, there is a clash between those two
because they do not match up to what we consider to be black
At the current moment, he is a prime example of an artists that does not seek to conform to
a certain image =, rather just uses free self-expression.
• Hokum=nonsense his argument is that there is nothing different from African American art,
because they are both from America
o The nonsense is not negro art, but what we just read about negro art
o Might not even mean a word of what he just said
Was a satirist, but also did turn conservative at some point
His arguments on what constitutes black identity
• At this moment, there is no true definition of what it means to be black, it is only getting
into formation
o Are you capable of having an identity different from your art?
Demonstrates the conflict of creating art for arts’ sake, versus having art to illuminate a truth or
carry political backgrounds.
Talks to the inherent privilege that some people have had in having art created for the simple joy
of art versus others that need art in order to live
• This illuminates why there were so many artists that left the US, because if their art did not
appeal to the interests of the white Hegemonic powers, then you have to break from those
labels not only as an artist, but also of the art itself.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Journalist that argues that there was such a thing as black art or sensibility, in that blacks and whites were equally diverse, having brought up in the same ways, same education and values. Talks partially in response to langston hughes and other individuals such as dubois in saying that. African american art is in any way different from any other form of art. The aframerican is subject to the same economic and social forces that mold the actions and thoughts of white americans. Cannot possibly be so, because meanwhile they are exposed to the same economic and social forces, they are not exerted in the same way towards both colored americans. Other side: african american art is white washed, thus it tailors to what white america wants to see. Lil" pump discourse: when looking at him, listening to him, there is a clash between those two because they do not match up to what we consider to be black.
