The New Negro

By Alain LeRoy Locke

Book Overview

'We have to-morrow
Bright before us
Like a flame'

The New Negro: An Interpretation is a multidisciplinary anthology of poetry, fiction, essays, criticism, art, and philosophy woven together into a seamless statement of Black agency in the arts and humanities that became, upon its publication in 1925, an instant publishing success. Edited by Alain Locke, a man known as the father of the Harlem Renaissance, the text is a powerful, provocative, and affecting anthology of writers who shaped the Harlem Renaissance movement and who help us to consider the evolution of the African American in society. With works by Black voices such as Zora Neale Hurston, Countee Cullen, and W. E. B. DuBois, Locke constructed a vivid look at the changing African American, finding their place in the ever shifting sociocultural landscape that was 1920s America.

With an introduction from Jeffrey C. Stewart, leading biographer of Locke, this collection explores the literary strength as well as the historical context of a monumental and fascinating time in the history of America.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0198911459
• ISBN13: 9780198911456
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, Incorporated
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

A Wealth of Information

I saw a co-worker reading this one day, and decided to purchase it. I was pleasantly surprised to find the history that this book was filled with. It was wonderfully written and I'm sorry I didn't read it years ago.

Caution..........

This book is a remarkable example of the time period. Before reading this, one must understand the logic and the use of words during the renaissance. Understanding this is imperative in order to avoid becoming upset with the literature.

The Bible of the Harlem Renaissance

This anthology contains works by many of the most important contributers to the Harlem Renaissance. The best parts of the volume are the poetry selections by poets such as Hughes, Cullen, and McKay as well as the essays by Alain Locke. The works by Hurston and Toomer are also quite good. The essays by Locke (especially the New Negro) feature insight into many of the ideas and developments that took place in order to bring about this important historical and cultural movement. This book is a definite must read.