The essay The New Negro by Alain Locke’s defines what Locke believes to be the “Old Negro and the “New Negro. This paper will compare and contrasts Marcus Garvey The Future as I See it and Langston Hughes various poems on why Locke would have characterized them as either Old Negroes, New Negroes, or both. I believe Locke, Garvey , Hughes were determined to see Blacks succeed. Each writer expresses their idea in their own unique way, but they all wanted freedom, equality, and respect.
For example, Locke would characterize Garvey as the Old and New Negro. For instance, Garvey writes that it’s time for each person to decide on how they will discover freedom. Garvey writes “The hour has now struck for the individual Negro as well as the …show more content…

“They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong.” (p.1295) The young man will go quietly and he will dream about the day when he will be able to sit at the table with everybody and they will notice he is a beautiful person.
Hughes writes “Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table When company comes. Nobody”ll dare Say to me, “Eat in the kitchen,” Also, in the Theme for English B by Hughes I believe Locke would have characterized this to the New Negro. It was about a young color-man who was only colored student in his English class. His instructor asked the class go home and write something that is true and it will let you know who you really are. The young color boy wanted his instructor to know that even though they both might not want to be part of each other world, they both could learn from each other. I believe Locke, Garvey, and Hughes all shared similar values and views about the New Negro and Old Negro. All of them told their stories in different ways, but they all told their in own unique way.
Finally, all three authors wanted to express how they believed that we can reach our goals regardless of any obstacles that may stand in our way.
Sharise Williams
Literature-125
Professor