“This is a domain that mocks at legislative restrictions, caste, exclusionism and what not.”

Celebrating literature as a sphere capable of escaping social and political barriers. · Essay, The Negro as a Writer

• Equality
• Freedom
• Literature

“The English speaking people of both continents will read it if it is written by a master. It will make no difference.”

Expressing confidence that genuinely accomplished writing can transcend racial and national boundaries. · Essay, The Negro as a Writer

• Achievement
• Readers
• Writing

“The epic of his race awaits a writer. The drama of an unwritten history covering about four centuries will welcome the facile pen of some gifted son or daughter.”

Looking forward to writers who would give artistic form to an incompletely recorded history. · Essay, The Negro as a Writer

• Future
• History
• Writing

“The Negro writer has it largely in his power to demonstrate the higher possibilities and capabilities of his race.”

Seeing literature as a means of demonstrating intellectual and creative achievement. · Essay, The Negro as a Writer

• Achievement
• Possibility
• Writing

“The Negro writer is prolific in detail. Situation follows situation in rapid success, demanding close attention to keep clear of the meshes of involvement.”

Observing the richness and density of African American literary expression. · Essay, The Negro as a Writer

• Expression
• Style
• Writing

“The writer must be skillful, then, to write uncompromisingly and yet not be of the impudent.”

Reflecting on the delicate balance between forceful expression and the constraints imposed by racial prejudice. · Essay, The Negro as a Writer

• Courage
• Expression
• Writing

“They who write for us and fight our battles are essentially our only spokesmen.”

Emphasising the importance of writers as representatives and advocates for their community. · Essay, The Negro as a Writer

• Community
• Justice
• Writing

“Whatever power any writing can have can only be in proportion to its real merit in the thought-world, regardless of all source from which it came.”

Arguing that literary merit should be judged by the quality of the thought rather than the writer’s race. · Essay, The Negro as a Writer

• Literature
• Merit
• Writing

“He has shown how the immortal life of all beautiful things can be handed down for all time in dialect.”

His acknowledgement of the lasting artistic value that dialect can carry, despite his reservations about Negro dialect. · Essay, The Negro as a Writer

• Beauty
• Language
• Literature

“To speak the truth... it must be said that there is no such thing as a Negro dialect, but... bad English called Negro dialect.”

A controversial statement revealing his preference for standard English and established literary forms. · Essay, The Negro as a Writer

• Language
• Standards
• Writing