The Movement of Black Culture: The Harlem Renaissance

1. The Movement of Black Culture:The Harlem Renaissance By: Skyla Jones Ms. Sasser American Studies 28 February 2011

2. The Characteristics “The Harlem Renaissance was a movement that was composed of many themes: there was the revolt against the injustices suffered by black; the demand for a new personality and for cultural identity;and finally there was nostalgia and fascination for the far-off land of Africa” (Mudimbe-Boyi 186). Harlem became known as the main source of the development of the black culture and served as the blueprint for the creation of black communities in other cities. African Americans went to Harlem in search of educational opportunities and to express religious and philosophical ideals.

3. Literature, Music, and Arts In addition to the financial and common success of Harlem it was a time of creative achievement and authorized the new outgrowth of black culture. “It was a movement of color, gayety, singing, dancing, boisterous laughter and loud talk” (Johnson 30). The Harlem Renaissance brought attention to the effects of African Americans through forms of literature, art, music, drama, painting, sculpture, movies, and protest.

4. Langston Hughes Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. Originally Hughes attended college at Columbia University where he planned on becoming an engineer, but years later he attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania where he received his B.A. Degree. Langston Hughes first published poem was “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” in addition to that poem other poems such as “Danse Africaine”, “Negro”, and “Afro-American Fragment”. Hughes stated that the Harlem Renaissance was a time when “Negro was in Vogue”. “Hughes poetry set him aside from other writers, and allowed him to experiment with a very rhythmic free verse” (Langston Hughes Biography). Hughes died on May 22, 1967.

5. Zora Neale Hurston Zora Neale Hurston was born January 7, 1891 in Notasulga, Alabama, but later as toddler moved to Eatonville, Florida which she originally calls her home. Hurston attended Barnard College where she graduated from in 1928. She married Herbert Sheen on May 19, 1927 whom she later divorced 4 years later on July 7th. Hurston's personality is considered to be “a fiery intellect, have an infectious sense of humor, and “the gift” as one friend put it, “of a walking into the heart”'(Zora Neale Hurston) Is considered one of the most knowledgeable writers of the twentieth century of African American literature. One of her most famous works is Their Eyes Were Watching God, published in 1937 Died January 28, 1960 at the age of 69

6. Louis Armstrong Born on August 4, 1901 in New Orleans. Armstrong's first recording was on April 5th at the Gennett Studio in Richmond, Virginia. Is recognized as the founding father of jazz and was given the plenty nicknames such as Satchmo. Performed with artist such as Joe Oliver, Bessi Smith, Clarence Williams, Erskine Tate, and plenty more.

7. Cultural Effects The Good The Harlem Renaissance left a thriving interest for African Americans to learn about their heritage, also they gained and shared a cultural identity that spread across black communities in every nation. The Bad The Great Depression recreated the image of Harlem and portrayed it as a place full of poverty and unemployment. “The creative intellectual community failed to elevate the rest of the black culture to an acceptable standard” (Cruse 197).

8. From Harlem to France The European literary movement was started by black American writers “who aroused the European general scene of awareness and the sense of racial awareness” (Mudimbe-Boyi 189). In France the concept “Negritude” was developed which means “Black is beautiful” The Harlem Renaissance did not just leave effects on France it made an effect on all French speaking countries, arousing the development of Black consciousness.