In “Criteria of Negro Art” (1926) W.E.B. Du Bois suggests about “Negro America”: “We want to be Americans, full-fledged Americans, with all the rights of other American citizens…We who are dark can see America in a way that white Americans can not (sic). And seeing our country thus, are we satisfied with its present goals and ideals?” Later, in a 1928 book review of Nella Larsen’s Quicksand Du Bois writes “Helga is typical of the new, honest, young Negro woman–the one on whom “race” sits negligibly and Life is always first and its wandering path is but darkened, not obliterated by the shadow of the Veil.” Both comments address the emergence and importance of a self-defined African-American aware of, yet wholly unaffected by racial constraints.
Thinking back on Quicksand, does Helga Crane’s attitude and experience at Naxos reinforce or negate Du Bois’ ideals of African-American citizenship? How do you read Helga’s complex racial identity against the concept of a larger African-American citizenry? What does the end of the novel suggest about the “goals” of the “new, honest, young Negro woman” in early 20th century America? Use examples from the text to support your responses. Please use the comment link below to respond to the question.
