In his anthology, The New Negro Alain Locke, included many works of art ranging from poetry, essays, short stories, theater and visual art. The focus of this essay will address; what the role of African-American theater was during the Harlem Renaissance. African-American theater during the Harlem Renaissance meant to reflect the realities of the Negro (Scott 433). Willis Richardson, a playwright during the Harlem Renaissance, in his plays showed the realities of the Negro in society. “Compromise” showed the racial injustices that had been occurring in society before the The New Negro was published. African-American theater echoed Locke’s “New Negro” because it allowed the audience to see how the “race radicals” would be problematic for the …show more content…
Jane believes that everything is going to going to get better if she compromises with Ben Carter for any crime that he commits. Ben Carter was able to get away with murder by just paying a hundred bucks. However, when her son Alec breaks Jack Carter’s arm, she says “That’s different. Can’t you see that’s different. He ain’t goin’ to let you beat Jack up and get away with it!” (Locke 193). Jane is speaking of the cultural difference that existed in society that was structurally created. If an African-American does something to the white society, it is actually a crime that is punishable. However, if a white person does something to the African-American society, it can basically go under the rug by giving a small payout. Alec noticed this social issue and tries to address it. Similar events took place during the Wilmington Riots of …show more content…
However, certain white and black Republicans were forced to leave because they were taking the power away from the white supremacist (Collins 36-41). When you compare the events of Wilmington to “Compromise” it is noticeable Richardson showed his experiences. After Alec breaks Jack Carter’s arm he is forced to hide. Alec’s tells his mother, “Hide for what! He didn’t hide after he shot Joe, did he?” (Locke 193). The similarities between the riots and “Compromise” are very similar because in both situations the white society agitated the situation but the African-American society ended up paying. This idea as a whole represented Locke’s philosophy of the New Negro. Richardson may have been influenced by Wilmington but racial injustices caused by race riots had been occurring throughout the country. These would be the race radicals Locke spoke about in his anthology (7). Another example of race riots, was in the year 1917 in Chester Pennsylvania. Just like most of every other race riots, this was one caused by the whites. It also occurred in a black community just like every other race riot (Smith 1-2). Locke included “Compromise” in his anthology because it echoed this idea that the Negro being forced out of their communities due to race radicals [the white society]. Theater did something quite intriguing because it allowed the