Black Arts Movement Essay

The Black Arts movement refers to a period of “furious flowering” of African American creativity beginning in the mid-1960’s and continuing through much of the 1970’s (Perceptions of Black). Linked both chronologically and ideologically with the Black Power Movement, The BAM recognized the idea of two cultural Americas: one black and one white. The BAM pressed for the creation of a distinctive Black Aesthetic in which black artists created for black audiences. The movement saw artistic production as the key to revising Black American’s perceptions of themselves, thus the Black Aesthetic was believed to be an integral component of the economic, political, and cultural empowerment of the Black

The Black Panther Party was the most influential revolutionary group during the Civil Rights movement era. The BPP became a very strong political power. It influenced many government decisions and attracted the mass media. Yet, due to a number of reasons the BPP eventually collapsed. The Black Panther Party came to its demise due to government operations against it, various mistakes by the Party itself, and by short comings by its own leaders.

During my early years of school, I remember being taught white accomplishments and wondering if blacks and other people of color had made any significant contributions to today's world. I noticed that television consist of all white people. Throughout my research paper I hope to cover certain aspects of African American heritage. Aspects such as blacks making up the largest minority group in the United States, although Mexican-Americans are rapidly changing that. The contributions blacks have provided to our country are immeasurable. Unfortunately though rather than recognizing these contributions, white America would rather focus on oppressing and degrading these people. As a consequence American

Slavery began in the late 16th century to early 18th century. Africans were brought to American colonies by white masters to come and work on their plantations in the South. They were treated harshly with no payments for all their hard work. In addition, they lived under harsh living conditions, and this led to their resistance against these harsh conditions. The racism towards the African Americans who were slaves was at its extreme as they did not have any rights; no civil nor political rights.

Originating in the North, this movement took on a more radical stance: one that maintained racial separation and aimed to form a separate Black identity and encourage self-reliance and independence from whites (Source I). The Black Power Movement aimed to end institutionalised racism in the Northern states and call for social justice while improving the living conditions of Black people in urban areas who were living in poverty and often subjected to police brutality, although it can be noted that segregation laws were not in place in the North. (Source L). A prominent leader of the Black Power Movement was Malcolm X, who considered the Black Power Movement to be supportive of a nationalist ‘Black’ revolution which mainly focused on the accumulation of land and, as a result, independence as opposed to the ‘Negro’ revolution based on the Civil Rights Movement which focused on integration between races (Source

The black panther party formed by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale was a revolutionary power unlike any other group in the 60s. They formed a militant to protect the black community after witnessing countless racial attacks and prejudice. The group was famous for there anything go’s thinking including violence against police brutality which was common even after the civil act laws took effect. They also installed programs

My idea of slavery is, that it is one of the blackest, the wickedest things everywhere in the world. When you tell them the truth, they whip you to make you lie. I have taken more lashes for this, than for any other thing, because I would not lie.One day I set the table, and forgot to put on the carving-fork - the knife was there. I went to the table to put it on a plate. My master said, - "Where is the fork?" I told him "I forgot it." He says, - "You d - d black b - , I'll forget you!" - at the same time hitting me on the head with the carving knife. The blood spurted out - you can see. (Here the woman removed her turban and showed a circular cicatrices denuded of hair, about an inch in diameter, on the top of her head.) My mistress took me into the kitchen and put on camphor, but she could not stop the bleeding. A doctor was sent for. He came but asked no questions. I was frequently punished with raw hides - was hit with tongs and poker and anything. I used when I went out, to look up at the sky, and say, "Blessed Lord, oh, do take me out of this!" It seemed to me I could not bear another lick. I can't forget it. I sometimes dream that I am pursued, and when I wake, I am scared almost to death.{Benjamin Drew was a Boston abolitionist who

In Davarian L. Baldwin’s “Chicago’s New Negroes,” Baldwin explains how black people are aggressive and assertive as they want New Negro Politics. Part of their assertiveness, black working class people are able to form their own culture, as they support the New Negro settlers who migrated to the North. Using the language of the New Negro Politics, black people were able to bypass the stereotypes that were placed on them. Events such as the Harlem Renaissance allowed black people in the North to use art as a way to put emphasis on cultural creators that helped black people form their own culture. Many cultural creators that helped shape the modern world were Jack Johnson, Madam C. J. Walker, and Thomas Dorsey.

During the 1960’s, there were important events, actions, and organizations that changed the black communities' lives. The 1960’s are an important time period because of the Civil Rights Movement. During that time period, the black community's were able to vote (Voting Rights of 1965) and the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Between 1965 and 1968, the Black Panthers Party was created. Huey Newton and Bobby Seale created the Black Panther Party in Oakland, California in 1966. The Black Panther Party was original called, ‘The Black Panther Party for Self- Defense’; they implemented Malcolm-X philosophy of self-defense because during the time The Black Panthers were created there were high rates of police brutality towards the black community, which meant that Black people were being killed at random with no reason. Before The Black Panther Party had a name, Newton and Seale created the Ten Point Program, which explained what they wanted, and what they believed in. Newton and Seale both knew that they could not present their Ten Point Program without a name and they came up with the Black Panther Party (B.P.P).

Throughout history, the methods and techniques that humans use to accomplish their goal vary greatly, but the purpose of the task can be used to form a unity amongst people. The Black Panther Party was of those who believed that African Americans deserved freedom at no expense. Although the Black Panther Party were primarily seen as a radical militant organization through out the United States of America in the late 1960s, the Black Panther Party used its social and political power to get their agenda effectively completed, as stated in the Ten Point Program, through Black Nationalism and survival programs.

As Frantz Fanon points out: destroy the culture and you destroy the people. This must not happen. Black artists are culture stabilizers; bringing back old values, and introducing new ones. Black Art will talk to the people and with the will of the people stop impending "protective custody. " Neal believed he could destroy White America by causing a change in their culture.

African Art does not have specific date to which it evolved because most early African Art was carved in wood, which perished quickly. This is why most art dates from the 19th and early 20th century. Many 20th century artists admired and collected pieces of African Art. They enjoyed the bold color, expression, and form that produced a new beginning in art history. African Art was mostly dedicated to life affirming activities such as healing, pleasure, protection, and transformation.

The Black Arts Movement began in 1965 after the assignation of Malcolm X. Richard Powell explains in his book Black Art; A cultural History that

African American literature is the body of work produced in the United States by writers of African descent. This particular genre traces back to the works from the late eighteenth century by writers such as Phillis Wheatley to later reaching early high points with slave narratives and the Harlem Renaissance, and thus continuing today with authors such as Colson Whitehead and Maya Angelou. Among the themes and issues explored within African American literature are the roles of African Americans within the larger American society, African-American culture, racism, slavery, and equality. African American writing has also tended to incorporate oral forms such as spirituals, gospel music, jazz, and rap. Dating back to the pre-Revolutionary War period, African American writers have engaged in a creative dialogue with American letters. The result is a literature rich in culture and social insight. These pieces offer illuminating assessments of American identities as well as its history. Since the time of early slavery African American literature has been overlooked within the literature criticism. This essay thrives to show that within the English profession African American literature does belong alongside the great works such as A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and poetry as A Road less taken by Robert Frost. I will dive deep into history to not only investigate what critics think about African American literature, but why is it not held to a higher standard just as American

To determine if an artwork that stems from the Harlem Renaissance into the 1980s is considered resistance art can be difficult as one can argue both ways. The New Negro movement follows a pattern of resistance in the artworks subject matter or the artist's method of creation. The Harlem Renaissance's creations are a foundation of resistance through the use of subject matter and mediums in response to social movements. The beginning of the movement marked a time of rebirth, pride and unity for Harlem and it's newly free relocated citizens of African American descent. In the 1980s African American topics such as, the Mammy character and or Uncle Tom's character as they are reintroduced through