Journal paper

Issue No.	No. 71
Title	Educating “the New Negro”: African-American Etiquette Books from the Early Twentieth Century
Author	Huang, Wen-ling
Page	161-212
Abstract	In this paper I examine several etiquette books written at the start of the twentieth century and addressed especially to African Americans. Among the books examined are The Colored Girl Beautiful, Floyd’s Flowers: Or Duty and Beauty for Colored Children, First Steps and Nursery Rhymes, and The Brownies’ Book. I conclude that these etiquette books contain a mixture of traditional and contemporary ideas. They stress traditional notions such as the importance of having good habits, taking pride in one’s own appearance, family life and motherhood, emotional management, winning the respect of others through proper conduct, and so on. Contemporary ideas include having the right attitude toward money, paying attention to one’s appearance, advocating for independence for women, and stressing the importance of self-cultivation. Etiquette books helped African Americans combat negative stereotypes, while also encouraging them to embrace the notion of “the New Negro.” The books helped to raise the self-esteem of African American women during the Gilded Age, when the ideal beauty in American society was exemplified variously by the Gibson Girl and the Flappers.
Keyword	African-American, etiquette books, New Negro, non-cognitive skills, stereotypes, Harlem Renaissance
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