Senghor defines Negritude as "the sum total of the values of the civilization of the Black World". It is an affirmation of African culture, heritage, and identity that seeks to answer the fundamental question, "Who am I?" in the face of dehumanizing colonial practices.
To fully grasp the weight of Senghor’s thesis, one must understand the environment from which Négritude emerged. Co-founded in 1930s Paris by Senghor, Aimé Césaire (from Martinique), and Léon-Gontran Damas (from French Guiana), the Négritude movement was a literary and ideological revolt against French colonial assimilation. negritude a humanism of the twentieth century pdf
Leopold Senghor and the Question of Ultimate Reality and Meaning Senghor defines Negritude as "the sum total of
However, many scholars argue that these critiques often overlook the strategic necessity of the movement at the time. Negritude was a tool for liberation, a necessary stage in the dialectic of self-discovery that allowed for later, more nuanced explorations of identity. The Legacy of Negritude Today Co-founded in 1930s Paris by Senghor, Aimé Césaire
Despite these critiques, the historical impact of Négritude remains undeniable.