Journal #22

The Negro Digs Up His Past
Negros need to become motivated to strive for the good of the race. Such a dark history is painful to be 'dug up' yet it must be done in order for blacks to face the future. Understanding and learning from the past is how people move on. Repairing the social damage that slavery had upon Negros is not easily done, the only way to move past it is to look for the good moments, moments of pride and moments of determination that led to a revolution. "The work our race students now regard as important, they undertake very naturally to overcome in part certain handicaps of disparagement and omission too well-known to particularize."

"The Negro has been a man without history because he has been considered a man without a worthy culture." There is no way to forget the past or to change it. Slavery will always be a black mark on our nation's history. The only way to move on from it is to accept that it did happen, and hopefully the world learned a harsh lesson from it, in order to progress.

McDougald similar to Schomburg, fights for the image of Negroes past, except McDougald focuses her analysis on women. She urges the public, no longer should black women be ridiculed, used simply a tool to portray feminine viciousness or vulgarity. There is a softer side that has yet to be discovered. Why is it that what is left of chivalry is not directed towards them? Negro women are often times less confident and in doubt when it comes to the portrayal of themselves. Getting beyond this lack of self-esteem, these women are making progress, overcoming occupational and educational obstacles to establish a firm place in American society.

"We find the Negro woman, figuraively struck in the face daily by contempt from the world about her. Within her soul, she knows little of peace and happiness." It is a constant struggle, but accomplishing a sense of hope and pride to the long stereotyped and mistreated African American woman, it is worth the struggle.

Both authors have experienced their frustrations with the African American past. Yet both write to prove that there is hope, there is a chance to forget the evils of the past and still learn from the mistakes of generations long gone. The African American race has accomplished a lot since the days of slavery, and has so much more to achieve.


Works Cited
Schomburg, Arthur. "The Negro Digs Up His Past." The Portable Harlem Renaissance Reader. Ed. David Lewis. New York: 1995. 61-67.

McDougald, Elise. "The Task of Negro Womanhood." The Portable Harlem Renaissance Reader. Ed. David Lewis. New York: 1995. 68-75.