Sunday, October 28, 2007
Negro Youth Speaks & The Best of The Brownies' Book
As we have recognized before, the writing pieces from the New Negro are full of hope and opportunities for African Americans to better themselves as a whole race. I have found this similar theme apparent through The Best of the Brownies’ Book. At first I had never heard of The Brownies’ Book and when I researched it, I found out it was a children’s magazine published by the NAACP in 1920-1921 (founders include WEB DuBois, Augustus Granville Dill, and Jessie Fauset). It gave a sense of racial uplift through folklore, stories, poems, letters, sketches, and photographs. “Dolly’s Dream” is an example of instilling racial pride in young children as the little girl determines that she does love her “cwinkly black curls” (43). It exposed children to racist stories but at the same time brought them hope for the future by successful stories. I think that’s the point of the column “Little People of the Month” (70). I think one of main goals of The Brownies’ Book is to motivate African American children to achieve more than their parents did, to especially take advantage of educational opportunities. “The Heritage” found on page thirty-four shows this idea as Mother Mason explains to Julie that she has it easy compared to her ancestors and “owes” it to them to complete her schooling. I think both the New Negro and The Brownies’ Book encourage African American’s to think and take a look at what they’re up against (reality), but that they can overcome this obstacle and prove to whites that they are a hardworking and intelligent race, capable of anything.
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6 comments:
I found little people of the month especially touching. Although you do have to think of where these children are getting some of their ideas it was both sad and encouraging to read their stories. It is dissapointing to read about a little boy who doesn't believe he can be an architect because it's not for "black children" i think that the brownies book is a positive thing because it trys to go against popular assumptions.
I also think that the Brownies Book is good because of how is encourages young black children to be able to get educated, However in Heritage there is a line that said you would let your whole race down. Sometimes the ideas in this book would give children a lot of pressure. Just like anything else there are a lot of pros and cons.
I agree that the overall message of The Brownies’ Book is to inspire African American children to strive for success. The magazine also provided these children with stories about their own race that were written at their level. This was probably a very important magazine at this time even though it was not in publication for very long. I’m glad that African American adults were able to recognize the importance of reading in children’s lives. This magazine gave children the chance to read about relevant topics in society as it related to them as children.
I'm really glad that you mentioned that the main goal of the Brownies' Book was to provide racial uplift to children. When we were discussing connections between Brownies' Book and other literature we've read so far in class, nobody mentioned the common theme of racial uplift, but it is written all over the stories. While some of the themes and messages within the writings come on strong and in extreme form, they definitely apply to children with lessons for directed specifically toward children looking for strong, black leaders as inspirations.
I agree with you that the magazine definitly exposes children to racist stories but also has very successfull stories of african american people and children. The little people of teh month are very much inspiring to children. That one little people of the month shows the children that no matter waht color you should be nice to them and help tehm if they need help. Which i think was not shown or told to them often.
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