According to this excerpt, why is it important that the 'near intellectuals" expose themselves to Bessie Smith, Paul Robeson, and other African American artists?

It is important because they need to learn to appreciate their heritage and understand their own culture.

Explanation:

Langston Hughes's essay "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain" deals with the issue of accepting one's cultural heritage despite the 'baggage' it contains. Hughes used this essay to address the need for blacks to accept who they are, where they come from, and be happy and content about it without trying to unsuccessfully emulate the white people.

In the given passage from the essay, Hughes states that people need to Bessie Smith and Paul Robeson. These artists are accepting of their black heritage and fought for their rights, addressing the oppression and discrimination they faced. And like them, Hughes wants people to be like these artists, ready to face their oppressors and fight for what is right.  He wants the "near intellectuals" to experience these artists' songs so that it might "cause the smug Negro middle class to turn from their white, respectable, ordinary books and papers to catch a glimmer of their beauty." In short, he is implying that these black people who are trying so hard to emulate the whites need to get a better understanding of their culture and learn to appreciate their heritage instead of trying to be like someone else.

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