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It is the duty of the younger Negro artist . . . to change through the force of his art that old whispering "I want to be white," hidden in the aspirations of his people, to "Why should I want to be white? I am a Negro - and beautiful!"
Langston Hughes
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the responsibility of artists to redefine identity and self-worth within their communities.

Langston Hughes articulates the essential duty of young Black artists to challenge and transform the internalized desire for whiteness among their peers into a celebration of Black identity and beauty. This statement underscores the power of art as a means of social change and self-acceptance, urging artists to use their creative voices to inspire pride and a redefinition of cultural narratives.

Themes

ArtIdentitySelf-AcceptanceBlack CultureBeautyPride

In practice

Example use cases

During a panel talk about the role of art in activism, one might use this quote to underscore the importance of representation.

More from Langston Hughes

I have discovered in life that there are ways of getting almost anywhere you want to go, if you really want to go.
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My writing has been largely concerned with the depicting of Negro life in America.
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I tire so of hearing people say, Let things take their course. Tomorrow is another day. I do not need my freedom when I'm dead. I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.
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An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose.
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The calm, Cool face of the river, Asked me for a kiss
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The only way to get a thing done is to start to do it, then keep on doing it, and finally you'll finish it.
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