A Look At Negritude
Submitted by rustyc on 06/30/2008 05:21 PM
- Category: English
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A Look At Negritude
Negritude
Negritude, a term coined by Cesaire, was a literary and ideological movement headed by French speaking black intellectuals, writers and politicians. Some underlying themes that characterized the negritude movement included the blacks' reaction to colonialization by the European's, regarding the rejection of Western domination and ideas by the blacks and their denunciation of European lack of humanity during the process. Another theme found throughout many of the writings covered in class is the idea of loss of identity, and the attempt to regain or retain African history, traditions, and beliefs, as well as acceptance and pride in being black. We also see the concept of loneliness and abandonment. In many of the writings the romantic myth of nostalgia for the beauty and harmonious Africa is dominant.
In Diop's Your Presence from Yearning for Africa we see the demonstration of the beauty of Africa as he refers to the land as "my love." In The Renegade, we also see the loneliness shown as he cries "Oh I am lonely so lonely here." Yet in Africa from Reflections on Colonialism we see hope for the future of the black race as he states "[t]hat is your Africa springing up anew / Spring up patiently obstinately".
In selections of Francois Sengat-Kuo we see the harsh circumstances that the Europeans enlisted upon the Africans during colonialization, and the lack of humanity they held for the blacks. We see that the Europeans arrived "guns in hand / The dead started piling up / Crying was heard." In Prayer for Peace we see condemnation once again as "crucified Africa" is shown, crucified by European efforts to civilize and colonize the land. In this selection we see a want to forgive the white people for having "tortured [their] followers, deported [their] doctors and scientists."
Senghor in Night in Sine retreats into a world of his ancestors, into the history of his people, wanting to know "speak with their...
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