Question

read the excerpt from \the negro artist and the racial mountain\

let the blare of negro jazz bands and the bellowing voice of bessie smith singing blues penetrate the closed ears of the colored near intellectual until they listen and perhaps understand. let paul robeson singing \water boy,\ and rudolph fisher writing about the streets of harlem, and jean toomer holding the heart of georgia in his hands, and aaron douglas drawing strange black fantasies cause the smug negro middle class to turn from their white, respectable, ordinary books and papers to catch a glimmer of their own beauty

according to this excerpt, why is it important that the
ear intellectuals\ expose themselves to bessie smith, paul robeson, and other african american artists?

• to learn more about key individuals in mainstream culture
• to better understand and appreciate their heritage
• to help these musicians and writers become more successful
• to create music and writing that reflects their ancestors beliefs

Explanation:

The excerpt emphasizes that exposure to African American artists (like Bessie Smith, Paul Robeson, etc.) should make the "smug Negro middle class" (the "near intellectuals") turn from white - centric materials to "catch a glimmer of their own beauty". This implies the goal is to help them understand and appreciate their African American heritage. The first option is incorrect as the focus is on their own heritage, not mainstream culture. The third option is wrong because the excerpt is about the intellectuals' self - understanding, not helping the artists succeed. The fourth option is incorrect as the excerpt is about appreciating their existing heritage, not creating new works reflecting ancestors' beliefs.

Answer:

B. to better understand and appreciate their heritage