Answer:
In "Introduction to The New Negro," Alain Locke discussed the importance of community growth and the celebration of cultural identity. The lines 7-9 of the poem, "We wait for rebuilding, we wait for renovation, / for the groups to coalesce, for the patterns to shift," enhance Locke's ideas by employing a metaphorical description of the growth process he described.
Firstly, the term "rebuilding" in line 7 implies a sense of restoration and reconstruction that aligns with Locke's argument that growth involves defining the community and reconstructing its foundations. The community needs to rebuild these foundations to grow and thrive.
Secondly, in line 8, the phrase "for the groups to coalesce" suggests the community aims to bring its diverse elements together into a cohesive whole. This echoes Locke's idea of community growth involving different groups coming together and celebrating their shared cultural identity.
Lastly, in line 9, "for the patterns to shift" suggests a need for change and transformation within the community. This aligns with Locke's thoughts on growth requiring a willingness to evolve, adapt, and transform. The use of "patterns" suggests the need for the community to break from previous ways of doing things and explore new possibilities.
Overall, these lines in the poem use metaphorical language to emphasize the rebuilding, coalescing, and shifting of patterns that symbolize the growth process Locke highlighted. The poem suggests that growth necessitates a willingness to embrace change and transformation, a concept Locke likewise emphasized in his essay about the New Negro.