PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS DISCUSSION POST Within Chapter 9 we explore the numerous

PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS DISCUSSION POST
Within Chapter 9 we explore the numerous contributions of African Americans to the community in a creative sense. These contributions include Music, Visual Arts, as well as literature. In addition to covering the names that shaped these areas, the reader is able to explore the shifts in the works created over time in their respective periods. Early in the chapter, we are introduced to two different schools of thought in regard to the creation and exploration of art itself: the detached-art school and the committed-art school.
The detached-art school refers to the school of thought that art “is universal and personal maybe but never Black.” Supporters typically prioritized art over race or politics. Well-known advocates include writers Ralph Ellison and J. Saunders Redding. Ralph Ellison was a writer well-known for his book award-winning novel, “Invisible Man” (1952) which “poses Blacks as invisible in a racist society and in search of a solid identity.” Within the book, Ellison covered a multitude of themes such as Racism as an Obstacle to Individual Identity and the Elusive nature of the Promise of Freedom. In fact, the book was so popular that it is noted as a Black Classic. Despite this, Ellison was very vocal in his opinion of art being “universal and personal but not black.” He received much criticism for his treatment of his novel as a work of art rather than a means to invoke social change. In fact, Ellison went on to comment on his belief that “being overly concerned with race and politics would be a disservice to the artist.” Another notable voice of the detached-art school was J. Saunders Redding. Redding is notable for his achievement as the first African American faculty member in the Ivy League as well as for his writing skills. He authored several works including To Make a Poet, Stanger, and Alone, and They Came in Chains among many others. Redding was said by others to be, “too conservative for activists at the time but too liberal for conservatives.” An instance of such conservatism exists in Redding’s book, “On Being Negro in America.” In this book, Redding writes, “…the obligations imposed by race on the average educated or talented Negro.. are vast and become at last onerous. I am tired of giving up my creative initiative to these demands. I think I am not alone.” Despite holding such unpopular opinions, over the course of his life he never wavered in his thoughts and remained adamant about his stance.
Opposite the previously explored school of thought, we have the committed-art school. The committed-art school refers to the school of thought that art and artists “must speak to the spiritual and cultural needs of the people, else it has no value.” Well-known advocates include James Baldwin and Toni Morrison. James Baldwin was an essayist, novelist, and playwright whose works include: “Go Tell it on the Mountain”, “The Fire Next Time”, “The Amen Corner”, and “Just Above My Head” to name a few. Baldwin is regarded for his essays on the Black experience with much of it mirroring not only his experiences but those of black people who come from all walks of life. Baldwin’s work has been praised for its “raw and abrasiveness of the dark realities of race relations all across the nation.” An example of this is his novel titled, “Another Country.” (1962) In this book Baldwin uses third-person narration to explore the aftermath of the untimely suicide of a drummer named Rufus Scott. Specifically, the events and relationships among his group of friends/family. For the time period in which this book was released, it featured themes/topics that were seen as taboo such as bisexuality, isolation, extramarital affairs, and interracial couples to name a few. Within his lifetime Baldwin noted that his personal mission was “bearing witness to the truth.” He gave many lectures/speeches including his “Pin Drop Speech” where he recounted the history and continuation of the dehumanization of Black people specifically in America as well as the social and economic implications of such actions. Additionally, he shed light on how this affects us now and in the future while imparting his own opinions on the matter. Another novelist with opinions favoring the committed-art school was Toni Morrison. Toni Morrison has received numerous awards for her works starting with her first book “The Bluest Eye.” Other novels of Morrison’s include: “Song of Solomon”, “Beloved”, “Praying in The Dark”, “A Mercy”, and “Jazz” among many more. Morrison’s works were described as speaking to ” the truth of Black people” expressing hopes, aspirations, love, and the constant struggle to have a full and free life. For instance, In her novel “Songs of Solomon” )which won Best Novel of the Year in 1977), covers the life of Macon “Milkman” Dead III a black man living in Michigan from the time he is born into his adult life. The duration of the book covers themes like Flight as a means of escape, Abandoned women, and Racism as a cause of Alienation. “Songs of Solomon was not the only book to receive high praise. Morrison has gone on to receive awards such as the Nobel Prize for literature (1993), the Blue Ribbon Non-fiction Award (2004), and the National Humanities Award (2000). She has also been listed in “100 Greatest African Americans” by Molefi Asante. Furthermore, her strong stance on art as a means of social change and awareness isn’t just addressed and covered in her books. In an interview, when asked the question of if she can/will write about white people or about topics other than race she doesn’t hold back. Morrison states that she feels that the question is synonymous with insinuating that “our lives have no meaning or depth without the white gaze.” She notes that she has spent all of her writing careers ensuring that the white gaze was not the dominant one in any of her books.
I personally feel that artists should subscribe to the committed-art school. While in some ways it is understandable how one may not want their art shrouded in other topics of conversation such as politics or race, these are unavoidable topics that actually fuel the inspiration behind numerous if not all works of art. The topic of Black studies and beyond speaks to helping all people better understand the world in a broader sense by removing its traditionally eurocentric focus and panning out to include the stories, history, and cultures of everyone including Black people. As it relates to race, it is imperative that the topic of race which has occupied a great deal of history is showcased and prioritized so that we may normalize the way we see, interpret, and handle history and society as it relates to race. To say that art (and the way art is communicated) in a creative outlet had no room for race or politics is to undermine these sentiments. Furthermore, to deny this is to contribute to holding us back from building a better future by undervaluing the truth that so many people get to explore through art. Lastly, if topics like race and politics are noted as secondary to the art itself then it robs the work of its meaning. It sets a precedence that the actual underlying inspiration and denotation of the piece is important only after appreciating the existence of the work itself. The problem with this thought however is that it contradicts itself because the existence of the body of art is nothing without first its muse which stems from significant themes and discussions like race and politics. For these reasons, I believe that artists should subscribe to the committed art school.