In Langston Hughes’s essay "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain," which responds to George Schuyler’s "Negro Art Hokum," what does Hughes identify as the main obstacle preventing the development of authentic African American art in the United States?

Show Answers

The persistent racial prejudice found within white society.The enforced racial separation prevalent in the southern states.A common desire among African Americans to conform to white cultural standards.A tendency among white Americans to absorb and diminish other cultures.None of the above.

Explanation

Langston Hughes argues that the primary barrier to genuine African American art is the widespread aspiration among Black individuals to adopt white cultural norms, which he calls the "racial mountain." This internalized desire hinders the creation of true Negro art by encouraging assimilation rather than embracing authentic Black identity.