Bunk is a shared home for the web's most interesting thinking about American history. Take a moment to read about How Bunk Works. You can find the entire article that each excerpt on Bunk is drawn from by looking for the “View on…” button below that excerpt.

This linked excerpt highlights the fact that some of the leading figures of the New Negro movement asserted critical views of the intellectual and cultural lives of African Americans in the Midwest. After reading the excerpt and reflecting on what you have learned about the New Negro movement and the Harlem Renaissance, write down, discuss, or simply think about answers to the following questions:

• What were the various motivations that these New Negro leaders might have had for their region-based criticisms?
• If you were to conduct research in support of the claim that midwestern African Americans, in fact, made significant literary, artistic, and intellectual contributions during the 1920s and 1930s, what midwestern cities would you focus on?
• What kind of primary sources would you look for?
• Where might you find them?