The Concept of Racial Liberalism, Essay Example

The concept of racial liberalism introduced by Daniel Ho Sang during the postwar period described a period in the American history in the 1940s, which was believed as a precursor to the Civil Rights Movement between 1950s and 1960s (HoSang 7). The movement was more profound in Southern California, as compared to other states where it was designed to end discrimination in the art industry. According to HoSang (2010), the movement concentrated on the lives and work of black visual artists, writers, musicians, as well as filmmakers. Thus, the black cultural politics played an instrumental in changing the politics and changed political realities through generating new forms of artistic and cultural expression.

According to HoSang The black movement during this time was fronted towards attaining civil and political rights of the black persons that had been oppressed for many years by the white community (HoSang 8). This movement formed an initial stage of the ongoing political, as well as social struggle designed to dislodge possessive investments in white privilege that structured or distorted both political and libidinal economies of America. Furthermore, racial liberalism became a normative baseline against which campaigns for the equalization of distribution along with recognition along racial lines continued to be waged (Widener 225). The black arts movement became more powerful in its primary agenda of ensuring that racial discrimination is eliminated and that blacks are liberated from the oppressions, especially in the field of arts. The movement became a cultural movement aimed at, as well as arising from an African American working-class politics along with a sensibility that was intimately aligned with, but not a subordinate of black power.

The concept of racial liberalism introduced the period of racial liberalism that saw many changes not only in the arts but culture and politics. Therefore, the period became a platform that resulted to a black art movement that fought for equality in the society by eliminating those practices that promoted racial discrimination. Hence, the concept holds water (HoSang 11).

The concept of racial liberalism best explains the narrative antiracist activity, and the black freedom struggle between 1940 and 1960 by giving an account of the events that transpired during this time. Widener (2010) argues that the period was dominated by movements that were designed to make sure that African American are not discriminated against in the arts. They needed to be given similar opportunities as whites in the arts, which they succeeded at the end of 1960. This era of racial liberalism became a cultural, as well as a political movement that was common in Los Angeles that, saw African Americans access to equal opportunities with others in the society in the field of arts (Widener 226).

Question 2

Marable (2007) argues that in the United States, the civil right movement swept away most of the formally institutionalized instruments of racial discrimination and injustices. Therefore, the period between 1940 and 1960 marked a very important period that ensured that racism is eliminated in the society through movements that were anti-racism in nature. These movements played a leading role in ensuring that no one is discriminated on the basis of race and that every citizen must be treated equally. However, this period saw success, but the movements faced many challenges that undermined their efforts (Widener 227). Despite these challenges, the anti-racism period was instrumental because the US experienced a dramatic decline in racial discrimination. For instance, in 1954, black students at Alabama State University organized a boycott because of racial discrimination they were facing in the institution, whereby they succeeded because their concerns were addressed (Marable 4).

For the Black Los Angeles, the profound economic, as well as political polarization in these twenty years (1940-1960) suggests an essentially different economic and political movement that was geared towards eliminating racism. The movements coincided with distinctive patterns of cultural relativism (HoSang14). During the twenty years, artists played an important role in desegregating employment, as well as other common areas of racial inequality. Therefore, seeking the transformation of material conditions and racial representations alike, the efforts resulted in patterns of organization on the part of the artists. During this period, cultural politics took a center stage to the wider enterprise of black politics, which led to dividing activists and artists based on conceptual, as well as organizational fault lines. Widener (2010) says that reacting to vastly diverse economic and political situations; therefore, it is evident that the period was important because it marked an important part of history where the blacks became active in the arts and political issues in the society.  Thus, the dominant cultural and political life in the outcome of the civil right movements and black power eras demonstrates the success of the period following 20 years of struggle (HoSang14).

Furthermore, the period was successful and the major problems during that time were the lack of enough funds to support the movement and intimidation from the government that felt that the movements could undermine the social order that existed in the United States. The activism between the 1960s and 1970s has remained in the mind of many because of the noteworthy movements that were powerful during this period compared to one between 1940 and 1960. During this time, grass-root activism was more widespread, where persons realized the importance of activism to act on behalf of others and the society as a whole (Marable 5).

Works Cited

Alvarez, Luis. Another University Is Possible. San Diego, CA: University Readers, 2010. Print.

HoSang, Daniel. Racial Propositions: Ballot Initiatives and the Making of Postwar California. Berkeley, Calif: University of California Press, 2010. Print.

Marable, Manning. Race, Reform and Rebellion: The Second Reconstruction and Beyond in Black America, 1945 – 2006. Jackson, Miss: University Press of Mississippi, 2007. Print.

Widener, Daniel. Black Arts West: Culture and Struggle in Postwar Los Angeles. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2010.