Alexandra Moore - Boiling Blood lyrics

During the slave period, the white population viewed African-Americans as the lesser race - as mute and dumb, incapable of ever fighting back against their oppressors. But as slavery ended, and the Harlem Renaissance began, what African-American writer Alain Locke calls the “New Negro” emerged. Alain Locke, in 1925, claimed that this “New Negro” was a renewal of the Negro “self - respect and self - dependence”. This new found strength in individualism expressed itself in many ways, but some of the writings of the time reflect a sense of repressed anger and defiance by the black community towards the whites. A number of the writings display much hatred and ferocity at how the whites have treated the black community up until this point. The Harlem Renaissance was the time of the Negro voice to be heard, and this timeline, from 1900-1940, will trace how the “New Negro” put its indignation into words. 1903- Why Are We so Angry? W.E.B. Du Bois The Souls of Black Folk “But when to earth and brute is added an environment of men and ideas, the attitude of the of the imprisoned group may take three main forms, - a feeling of revolt and revenge; an attempt to adjust all thought and action to the will of the greater group; or, finally, a determined effort at self-realization and self-development despite environing opinion” 1907- We Are The Heavenly Creatures You Pretend To Be W.E.B Du Bois “The Song of Smoke” “The blacker the mantle, the mightier the man! For blackness was ancient ere whiteness began. I am daubing God in night, I am swabbing Hell for white: I am the Smoke King I am black.” 1918- Harsh Lands Breed Harsh People Claude McKay “Harlem Shadows” “Ah, stern harsh world, that in the wretched way Of poverty, dishonor, and disgrace, Has pushed the timid little feet of clay, The sacred brown feet of my fallen race!” 1919- V for Vendetta Claude McKay poem “To the White Fiends” “Think you I am not fiend and savage too? Think you I could not arm me with a gun And shoot down ten of you for every one Of my black brothers murdered, burnt by you? Be not deceived, for every deed you do I could match – out-match” 1922- To Restrain Myself is Superhuman Claude McKay poem “The White House” “And pa**ion rends my vitals as I pa**, Where boldly shines your shuttered door of gla**. Oh, I must search for wisdom every hour, Deep in my wrathful bosom sore and raw, And find in it the superhuman power To hold me to the letter of your law!” 1925- Our Anger is Hysterical The poem “I, too” by Langston Hughes “They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, “Eat in the Kitchen” 1931- Your Discomfort Makes Us Giggle “Strong Man” by Sterling Brown “They coaxed you, unwontedly soft voiced…. You followed away. Then laughed as usual. They heard the laugh and wondered; Uncomfortable; Unadmitting a deeper terror…. The strong men keep a-comin' Gittin' stronger” 1940- Paying With Interest The poem “Ballad of the Landlord” by Langston Hughes “Um-huh! You talking high and mighty. Talk on – till you get through. You ain't gonna be able to say a word If I land my fist on you”