Race and Society in Jean Toomer's Cane
analytical Essay
1900 words
The Harlem Renaissance was an intellectual and literary period of growth promoting a new African American cultural identity in the United States. The decade between 1920 and 1930 was an extremely influential span of time for the Black culture. During these years Blacks were able to come together and form a united group that expressed a desire for enlightenment. This renaissance allowed Blacks to have a uniform voice in a society based upon intellectual growth. The front-runners of this revival were extremely focused on cultural growth through means of intellect, literature, art and music. By using these means of growth, they hoped to destroy the pervading racism and stereotypes suffocating the African American society and yearned for racial and social integration. Many Black writers spoke out during this span of time with books proving their natural humanity and desire for equality. In 1923 Jean Toomer’s Cane was published by the Boni and Liveright publishing company and received favorable reviews. The book was released during the heart of the Harlem Renaissance and promoted the encouragement and interest in African American culture.* For the next forty years, Cane was not printed and seemed to fade away as an influential book. Many publishers claimed Cane was too insubstantial to reprint and denied the revival of the book. In 1967 the book was finally reprinted. The reprinting came during a time known as The Second Renaissance. During The Harlem Renaissance and The Second Renaissance, both times of revival and rebirth of a culture, Toomer’s novel was printed. Thus showing the significance of the novel during times of resurrection for African American culture. The book explains how other races in the North and in... ... middle of paper ... ...social suppression and attain dreams by just believing. I argue Kabnis should be the face of the south for all blacks because he took control himself and bypassed all social constructs and created his own dream and his own path. The only way for a restrained person to fulfill their fantasy is to shatter the limitations placed upon them and use their God given talents to conceive this dream. Jean Toomer is portraying himself through Ralph Kabnis. Toomer had a vision where his art would dominate the prejudices and societal limits undermining the inner talents each and every person has no matter the race. The Harlem Renaissance, with assistance from Cane, allowed African Americans to conquer the social construct placed upon their race and achieve success by reveling their talents. Works Cited Toomer, Jean. Cane. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, 1988.
In this essay, the author
- Describes the harlem renaissance as an intellectual and literary period of growth promoting a new african american cultural identity in the united states.
- Analyzes how toomer's novel, cane, was published during the harlem renaissance and the second renaissance. it explains how other races in the north and south viewed blacks.
- Explains that jean toomer was born nathnan eugene pinchback, a light-skinned man who could pass for white, and his mother, nina, was of african-american descent.
- Analyzes how cane is written in a way that is different and freer versed than other novels. there are three sections where toomer describes situations having to do with different races in different areas of the states.
- Analyzes how the novel depicts poor african american women living in rural georgia. the opening segment contains stories depicting miscegenation, interbreeding, infanticide, religious mysticism, and lynching.
- Analyzes how toomer conveys that the black culture still has an immense amount of proving to do before the white man will allow the sun to shine on their accomplishments.
- Analyzes how the opening character toomer writes about in cane is an african american young woman named karintha.
- Argues toomer is allowing the white men in this section to ignore the social construct of race and lust over karintha to show how looks are the only factor governing these color barriers.
- Analyzes how the second section of cane takes place in washington d.c. where toomer describes the life of urban african americans in the early 1920's.
- Suggests that toomer has this moon shaped figure rising to show the growth of the african american culture from the past section.
- Analyzes how toomer's vignette titled "theater" conveys that the social construct society has placed upon race has created hierarchal tension in black on black relations but can still be overlooked by talent.
- Analyzes how toomer creates a relationship between dorris and john to show how one can be blinded by social status.
- Analyzes how toomer allows dorris to display her god-given dance skills so john will drop the prejudice and recognize the natural talents this talented african american girl holds.
- Analyzes how kabnis is a one-act play about an urban african american writer who travels to the south to seek an identity for his fellow african americans.
- Posits that this halo is an analogy for the sun. the sun is foreshadowing that the goal will be completed in the final section.
- Analyzes how ralph kabnis is a trailblazer for his african american culture and the walking model for the modernization of their race.
- Analyzes how jean toomer's art would dominate the prejudices and societal limits undermining the inner talents of each and every person. the harlem renaissance allowed african americans to conquer the social construct placed upon their race and achieve success by reveling their talents.
Related
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- The Harlem Renaissanceanalytical essayOccurring in the 1920’s and into the 1930’s, the Harlem Renaissance was an important movement for African-Americans all across America. This movement allowed the black culture to be heard and accepted by white citizens. The movement was expressed through art, music, and literature. These things were also the most known, and remembered things of the renaissance. Also this movement, because of some very strong, moving and inspiring people changed political views for African-Americans. Compared to before, The Harlem Renaissance had major effects on America during and after its time.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that patrons were needed for the harlem renaissance to grow. they included carl van vechten and charlotte osgood mason, who offered assistance and made things more available to the black community.
- Analyzes how the harlem renaissance started to fade away after the great depression, especially for the blacks.
- Explains that the harlem renaissance was an important movement for african-americans all across america. it allowed the black culture to be heard and accepted by white citizens.
- Explains that the harlem renaissance had a strong and moving impact internationally. the racial segregation and discrimination ended, and the music and arts of today are inspired by the ideas of the renaissance.
- Describes dickstein, morris. "carl van vechten and the harlem renaissance." times literay supplement, n.d.
1572 wordsRead More - Harlem Renaissance and Jessie Redmon Fausetanalytical essayThe Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement of blacks that helped changed their identity. Creative expression flourished because it was the only chance blacks had to express themselves in any way and be taken seriously. World War I and the need for workers up North were a few pull factors for the migration and eventually the Renaissance. A push was the growing discrimination and danger blacks were being faced with in the southern cities. When blacks migrated they saw the opportunity to express themselves in ways they hadn’t been able to do down south. While the Harlem Renaissance taught blacks about their heritage and whites the heritage of others, there were also negative effects. The blacks up North were having the time of their lives, being mostly free from discrimination and racism but down South the KKK was at its peak and blacks that didn’t have the opportunities to migrate experienced fatal hatred and discrimination.
In this essay, the author
- Describes jessie fauset as the "midwife of the harlem renaissance" by poet langston hughes. she graduated from philadelphia high school for girls in 1900 and became an essayist and novelist.
- Analyzes how fauset's father influenced her to do the best in everything she did. she was denied a teaching job because of her race and sex, but it pushed her harder, resulting in her moving to baltimore.
- Opines that jessie redmon fauset was one of the many great artists during the harlem renaissance that inspired many with her strong words of wisdom and truth.
- Describes the harlem renaissance as a cultural movement during the early twentieth century. it was started by the great migration of blacks to the north during world war i.
728 wordsRead More - The Negative Impacts of the Harlem Renaissanceanalytical essay... The Harlem Renaissance was a time of growth and development in for African-Americans. They wrote novels, performed in clubs, and created the genre of Jazz. However, the Renaissance was imprisoned by its flaws. Rather then celebrating the unique culture of African-American’s, it oftentimes catered to what the White Americans would want to see and hear. Although racism seemed to be lower in Harlem and the Northern states, for many Blacks racism was at all time high. The Ku Klux Klan reached membership of astronomical proportions. They marched on Washington DC and handed out membership cards bashing minorities. Less educated Blacks, or those who couldn’t make it to Harlem, were often deemed ignorant. There was a barrier built between those Blacks with an education, and those without. And when the Great Depression hit, African Americans lost their jobs at a rate almost triple that of White Americans. Where was the equality Harlem had fought so hard for? The Harlem Renaissance, although it did achieve some remarkable things, did not redefine African American expression. That ideal, would take many more years of strife, struggle, and segregation to achieve.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the 1920's were a period of rapid growth and change in america. the harlem renaissance created the image of the "new negro".
- Explains that harlem provided a source of entertainment for many african-americans, but the renaissance became so dependant on the funding that when it stopped coming, there was no means by which to keep any of the clubs or literary cafes open.
- Analyzes how the ku klux klan fed on the fear created by the harlem renaissance and continued the practice of racial bigotry.
- Argues that the harlem renaissance embraced the idea of the elite few and failed to acknowledge and support the blacks lower on the socioeconomic food chain.
- Explains that the harlem renaissance was a time of growth and development for african-americans, but it was imprisoned by its flaws.
1138 wordsRead More - The Harlem Renaissanceexplanatory essayThe Harlem Renaissance refers to a prolific period of unique works of African-American expression from about the end of World War I to the beginning of the Great Depression. Although it is most commonly associated with the literary works produced during those years, the Harlem Renaissance was much more than a literary movement; similarly, it was not simply a reaction against and criticism of racism. The Harlem Renaissance inspired, cultivated, and, most importantly, legitimated the very idea of an African-American cultural consciousness. Concerned with a wide range of issues and possessing different interpretations and solutions of these issues affecting the Black population, the writers, artists, performers and musicians of the Harlem Renaissance had one important commonality: "they dealt with Black life from a Black perspective." This included the use of Black folklore in fiction, the use of African-inspired iconography in visual arts, and the introduction of jazz to the North.[i] In order to fully understand the lasting legacies of the Harlem Renaissance, it is important to examine the key events that led to its beginnings as well as the diversity of influences that flourished during its time.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the harlem renaissance was a prolific period of african-american expression from the end of world war i to the beginning of the great depression.
- Explains that blacks began to migrate from the southern united states to the north beginning in 1919 and lasting through about 1926. the reasons for this mass movement are complicated and numerous.
- Explains how the new negro movement fueled social activity in a spirit of 'progressivism' that believed in art and literature as agents of social change.
- Explains that there was not a single sociopolitical vision that dominated the works of the renaissance.
- Explains that the renaissance could not overcome the overwhelming white presence in commerce which defined art and culture. harlem intellectuals became "dicty niggers."
- Argues that the great depression provided a deep, abrupt interruption into renaissance activities as it did to all other aspects of social life.
- Explains that the harlem renaissance left a lasting legacy of cultural consciousness that informed all americans of black culture and life.
- Explains that migration has long been and continues to be an important part of black history. between 1919 and the 1960's over 6 million blacks have left the south for northern cities.
- Explains the reason the renaissance was able to occur was the general spirit of "self-determination" and social experimentation that gained popularity and acceptance following world war i.
- Explains that for the american negro, this meant a struggling identity crisis, being an american but not in whole because of the cruel and unfair treatment of black people.
- Explains that the u.s. government's works progress administration cultural program fueled an abundance of african american literary works, performance art, and visual expression well into the early 1940s.
1171 wordsRead More - The Harlem Renaissance: A Cultural African American Movementanalytical essayThe Harlem Renaissance became an awaking of African American literature, theatre, music and visual arts. African Americans had an opportunity for expression and self reflection that the previously were unable to have in the south. Through the visual arts, African American artists explored the themes of the black experience, identity and racial pride. Through these themes and others, the Harlem Renaissance would impact many generations of African Americans long after the movement
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how lawrence painted the panels at the same time, which added a unifying element to the overall series. the panel forty-nine illustrates the north's version of segregation.
- Describes the harlem renaissance as a cultural african american movement beginning in the 1920s and lasting through the 1930s.
- Explains how artists and writers focused on the theme of expressing the black experience during the harlem renaissance. jacob lawrence, born to parents who met on their journey north from southern states, understood the importance of the great migration for african american families.
- Analyzes how jacob lawrence's children book, the great migration, conveys that the war had doubled the cost of food, making life harder for the poor.
1145 wordsRead More - Zora Hurston And The Harlem Renaissanceanalytical essayThe cultural development of a society or group of native people maturates throughout the passing of time and factors that involve fine arts. Innovative clothing, music, artistic trends and more do not blossom overnight but cultivate their way into society through periods and passages of time. However, without notable nobles such as Langston Hughes, William Johnson, Fats Waller, James Weldon Johnson, Bessie Smith, and more the historical message and innovations of the Harlem Renaissance may not have etched its way into the African American philosophy. The evolution of the Harlem Renaissance was an artistic and intellectual surge that molded the mid-19th century’s African American culture and uplifted a symphony of enlightenment through writers
In this essay, the author
- Argues that the harlem renaissance was an artistic and intellectual surge that molded the mid-19th century’s african american culture and uplifted a symphony of enlightenment.
- Analyzes how harlem, new york, was a vital location to infuse an enlightenment in african american culture and history.
- Explains that harlem and new york quickly became the headquarters of many african american cultural and political national organizations, including the naacp, the national urban league, and marcus garvey’s unia.
- Explains that zora hurston aided in the development of the harlem renaissance through her gifted and well-versed literary works.
- Explains that the harlem renaissance thrived for several decades, but its decline aroused from conflict with its own people. many writers and artists mourned at the truth that their innovation world was not like most african american societies.
- Explains that the harlem renaissance was a vital asset to the african american culture and nation. it created an outbreak of artistic and intellectual insight during the mid-19th century that gave rise to cultural art.
856 wordsRead More - Figurative Language In The Battle Royal, By Ralph Ellisonanalytical essay.... In his life the restriction by the whites didn’t stop or discourage him from following his dream, which made him unique and outstanding. He was capable of thinking for himself, even though the whites had tried to “guide” him like the other blacks.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how ellison uses blindfolds as a symbol of oppression. the blacks were obligated to wear them because it was out of their control.
- Analyzes how the blindfold symbolizes the blacks' struggle for social and political equality, which was long and painful because the whites "blinded" them.
- Analyzes how ralph ellison's use of figurative language in "the battle royal" gave the story a dream-like quality.
- Analyzes how ralph ellison used symbols to tell his story in a powerful and vivid way. the blindfold symbolized oppression and blacks' struggle for equality.
859 wordsRead More - Racial Imagery In Jean Toomer's Poemsanalytical essayGrowing up, Jean Toomer moved from all white to all black neighborhoods and shifted around all white and all black segregated schools. This gave Toomer a unique view of the world fueling his ideas on racial equality. Toomer utilized his poetry as a way to express his feeling on racial equality, and became one of the biggest inspirations for writers of the harlem renaissance (source). Throughout his writing career Toomer instituted imagery in his poems to convey messages regarding racial equality.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how jean toomer moved from white to black neighborhoods and shifted around all white and all black segregated schools, giving him a unique view of the world fueling his ideas on racial equality.
- Analyzes how toomer's poem people examines the tendency to focus on appearance. he says that those who see the world this way "never see themselves"
273 wordsRead More - The Harlem Renaissanceexplanatory essayThe Harlem Renaissance was a time period during which the black culture of New York, primarily Harlem, was involved in a movement through which, using literature and intellect, they attempted to raise pride amongst themselves and attain equal status with those that oppressed them. Some of the best-known figures and key figures of this period were Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Zora Neale Hurston, Claude McKay and Jean Toomer.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the harlem renaissance was a period of cultural explosion that began in the wake of world war one and flourished until the great depression.
- Explains that the harlem renaissance was a time period during which the black culture of new york, primarily, attempted to raise pride amongst themselves and attain equality with those that oppressed them.
- Explains that the harlem renaissance started as a literary and intellectual movement with both race propaganda and "pure" art. they represented the outsiders who wanted to be part of the main stream.
- Describes harlem's 'roaring twenties', where people were happy, but the community they made up was a tight knit and caring one.
- Explains that the harlem renaissance was a way of trying to get into the mainstream community. they were voicing their opinion through art, poetry, music, painting, and dance.
- Explains that harlem was a predominately black area, while downtown was the southern end of manhattan, the area known as new york city.
- Opines that white businessmen still occupy the same role, below the whites, after the evenings of fun and laughter. these shows and performers had become cultural icons.
- Explains that many of the important players in the harlem renaissance dealt with issues other than race.
- Opines that the renaissance heroes showed that they have talents, are human, and will not be denied. they maintained a strong black community.
644 wordsRead More - The Poets and Writers of the Harlem Renaissanceanalytical essayThe Harlem Renaissance was a great time of achievement for the black poets and writers of the 1920s and early '30s. Many had a hard life living in the Harlem district of New York city. The foundations of this movement were laid in the social and political thought of the early 20th century.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the harlem renaissance was a great time of achievement for the black poets and writers of the 1920s, and early '30s.
- Explains that langston hughes, another writer of the harlem renaissance, is known and remembered for writing during the movement, but not being guided by a common literary purpose.
- Analyzes how langston jughes' poems and writings realistically depicted the life of black americans. his work was of high quality and won a favorable reception from the major publishing houses.
- Explains that hughes had four major writings that promoted the african negritude movement during the harlem renaissance. the first was a critical essay entitled "the negro artist and the racial movement."
- Explains that hughes' two poems, "the weary blues" and "fine clothes to the jew," were experimental in content and form, which made jughes leary of their acceptance.
- Opines that langston hughes is remembered for his genius for merging the comic and the pathetic, and his belief in the commonality of all cultures and universality of human suffering.
- Explains that w.e.b. dubois and langston hughes created what is remembered as the harlem renaissance. without their expressions of true black life, african americans would not be where they are today.
462 wordsRead More