Jacob Lawrence- Migration Series
Social stratification is an issue that society has grappled with for a long time since the onset of the modernization era. Members of the community tend to settle in areas where there are other people with whom they share similar socio-cultural values such as; race, socio-economic class, ethnic orientations, among other social distinctive grounds. In his work, “Migration series” that was initially referred to as “The migration of the Negro,” Jacob Lawrence shed more light on the role of the above socio-cultural values and how they affect the society in various ways. The artist focused on the migration of the African-American members of the American society migration from regions down south to the northern industrial areas of the U.S. there are various factors that the author has managed to present as the leading causative reasons for this migration. Some of these factors include; pursuit of better living conditions, search for employment, access to better social services, and active participation in nation-building activities.
The series of paintings are a clear indication of the social stratification and the concept of equality in society. After the First World War, the African-American members of the U.S society felt that they also deserved a chance at equal representation as to their other counterparts. The migration was, therefore, the initial step that the group was going to take towards trying to achieve the set-out objectives. This has been covered in a different aspect by both Locke and Hughes in their works published in 1925 and 1926, respectively. According to Locke in his publication, he focuses on the new Negro, who is an unfathomable character who refuses to adjust to the traditional stereotypes of the Negro in America. Locke says, “The sociologist, the philanthropist, and the race leader are all not aware of the new Negro, but they are at a loss to account for him. He cannot be swathed into their formula” (Locke, 1997)
This observation by Locke could be viewed as a theme of advocacy for black liberation, where the black members of the society refuse to be passed over by the rest of the community. Through self-empowerment and the pursuit of justice, the Negro in America can ask for what he is rightfully entitled to. Locke further states that; “the new generation is vibrant with a new psychology, the new spirit is awake in the masses” this, therefore, mentioned that this is just. Still, the beginning of the changes that are being witnessed and more is yet to come.
Hughes, on the other hand, has also managed to express his opinion on the same case, and he takes a different stand, given his interaction with a young black aspiring poet that he interacts with. The wannabe says, “I want to be a poet–not a Negro poet, “meaning, I believe, “I want to write like a white poet” (Vaquero, 2007). In his opinion, Hughes interprets the above utterances as to mean, the young Negro is not proud of who he is as a person. The inferiority complex appears to have taken a toll on him and therefore aspires to be white. It is clear that no individual has ever made it by running away from their true self, and therefore there is the likelihood that the young poet might not make his aspirations come true.
A deep contrast, therefore, sits between the views presented by Locke and Hughes on the American Negro. While Locke views this particular group to be well oriented and likely to achieve more than they were initially expected to, Hughes, on the other hand, considers the African-American population as being held back by their intuitions as well as perceptions such as the white man is better than them and that to achieve greatness, one has to be white.
References
Vaquero, M. M. (2007). ” The negro artist and the racial mountain”: Langston Hughes responde a George Schuyler. In Proceedings of the 30th International AEDEAN Conference [Recurso electrónico]. Universidad de Huelva.
Locke, A. (Ed.). (1997). The new negro. Simon and Schuster.