Final answer:
The 'New Negro' was an African American movement in the 20th century characterized by assertiveness and a rejection of Jim Crow laws, exemplified by civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. and the SNCC, and connected to broader ideologies like Pan-Africanism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term "New Negro" refers to a more assertive and self-aware African American identity emerging in the early 20th century, particularly during the Harlem Renaissance and later during the civil rights movements. Figures like Martin Luther King, Jr. and members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) exemplify the "New Negro" in their refusal to quietly accept Jim Crow laws and their outspoken advocacy for dignity, respect, and fair treatment. This was a departure from earlier African American attitudes of accommodation or patience and mirrored broader movements like Pan-Africanism, promoted by visionaries like Marcus Garvey and W. E. B. Du Bois, which celebrated a distinct and separate national heritage and encouraged a sense of pride and community among African Americans.