Question

Read the excerpt below and answer the question.

But this is the mountain standing in the way of any true Negro art in America—this urge within the race toward whiteness, the desire to pour racial individuality into the mold of American standardization, and to be as little Negro and as much American as possible.

What was Hughes's intended meaning in the statement?

Negro artists will be recognized when their art conforms to society.
Negro artists must create art only about their culture and ignore criticism.
Negro artists must gain recognition in any art form society will accept.
Negro artists will be accepted when their style is considered American.

Answer 1

Negro artists will be recognized when their art conforms to society.

Step-by-step explanation:

Langston Hughes's essay "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain" talks of how black poets are unable to achieve the popularity and name they deserve because of their race. The essay deals with the themes of racism and how the desire to be white plays a huge part in the development and gaining status of promising poets and artists.

In the given lines from the first paragraph of the essay, Hughes reveals how "One of the most promising of the young Negro poets" expressed his desire to be a poet, but "not a Negro poet". This, according to Hughes, assumed the man indirectly wanted to be white. So, Hughes went on to state that this desire to be "white", this issue of racism, of being dark-skinned, is "a mountain standing in the way of any true Negro art in America", making it impossible for promising black artists to develop as an artist.

Through this passage, Hughes intended meaning is that "the desire to pour racial individuality into the mold of American standardization, and to be as little Negro and as much American as possible" is the only way for such artists to grow. In short, he is implying that Negro artists will be recognized only when their art conforms to the society's view, indirectly meaning, they cater to the white man's wants and views.

Thus, the correct answer is the first option.