In the beginning of Norman Lewis’ career he was very interested in African Art, aligning himself with the views of Alain Locke. Lewis was an active member of organizations, such as the Harlem Artists Guild and the Harlem Community Arts Center which provided opportunities to African American artists shortly before the Abstract Expressionist movement matured. However, Lewis’ ideas began to be more closely associate with that of Bearden. In Abstract Expressionism and Other Politics by Art History Ann Eden Gibson learned that “Lewis argued that social realism was not an effective way to counter racial prejudice.” She quoted what Lewis said to Vivian E. Browne in 1968, that “I [Lewis] soon found out that this was a waste of time because the very
