Jessica Rutledge
American literature, First Period
Ms. McCully/ Mrs. Campbell
Literary Analysis
The Harlem Renaissance: Rebirth of the African American culture
There have been many Renaissances in the history of mankind, but none have been as
pivotal and culturally changing than the Harlem Renaissance. The Renaissance, it is a time of
change and new awakenings. Before the Harlem Renaissance African Americans didn't have a
definitive culture. Their culture was only defined by years if slavery, bigotry and African
culture. After the great migration from the south, African Americans settled in the north and
began to make their mark on history. This article will not only accurately depict African
Americans affect on music, art and literature but how the African Americans strived to rise above
the oppression they faced and changed the American dream forever.
Between 1920 and 1933 the distribution and sale of alcohol was banned. Unsurprisingly
this did not stop America from drinking. Prohibition more or less fueled people's need to rebel
thus making drinking even more popular. Clubs popped up all around the cities called
speakeasy's. These were clubs where people went to drink and dance. This is were the Harlem
Renaissance played a key role.
At these clubs people needed fast paced music to fuel their uninhibited will to dance. The
Harlem Renaissance "achieved much of its fame not only because of Harlem's reputation but the
almost universal popularity of jazz and blues..."(Richard J. Powell). The Jazz music was fast
paced and wild compared to music from the earlier decade. Jazz music spawned special dances
like the Charleston and dancers like flappers. "Images of sleek Cadillacs, "flappers" and "sheiks"
wearing raccoon coats, and brilliantly lit, busy street corners, easily conveyed the mystique and
pace of modern life." (Richard J. Powell).
The use of scat, call-and-response, improvisation, polyrhythms, syncopation, and the
swung note of ragtime are characteristics of Jazz music. Many famous artists if the Jazz
movement are still memorable figures in music history as well as African American history. Jazz
music reflected happiness, it was a means to forget about the oppression and other things African
Americans had faced. Out of the Harlem Renaissance spawned another genre of music.
Blues, though using the same instruments and elements of jazz was the complete opposite
tone wise. The phrase "the blues" was a reference to the blue devils, meaning 'down' spirits,
depression and sadness. It reflected the oppression of the African Americans unlike jazz music
that focused on happiness. Blues music was slower to portray the sorrow written in the
lyrics. Despite the depressing tone of Blues it influenced many other genres of music including
rock music.
During the Harlem Renaissance poets thrived. Like Jazz and Blues there were two
different tones to Black poetry. Influential poets like Langston Hughes and Claude Mckay wrote
both about the sadness and hardships of being black in America as well as the wonders of the city
and appreciation for family. Just like in music, poets used their dissertation to depict their life
and their American Dream.
Visual Artists played a key role in depicting the life and look of the "New Negro".
These artists did not draw pictures of Caucasian Americans to emphasize their celebration of
their new culture. Their pictures portrayed vivid, urban black culture that bore little resemblance
to the typical rustic images of black southerners so popular in the cultural eye. Artists like
Augusta Savage and Archibald Motley were noted for using current and modern techniques
instead of looking back to Africa for inspiration.
The Harlem Renaissance wasn't just about art, it was an awakening for African American
minds to come together and to better themselves. The Harlem Renaissance was once called the
"New Negro Arts Movement." named after the anthology The New Negro, edited by Alain Locke
in 1925. The Harlem Renaissance grew out of the changes that had taken place in the black
community since the abolition of slavery. Then after the failure of the Reconstruction and the
establishment of the Jim Crow laws African Americans gradually began to migrate North.
By the 1920's African American had established a middle class mainly in cities in New
York and predominately Harlem. Soon after African Americans began organizing themselves
politically and intellectually. The NAACP was established was by W.E.B. Dubois.They rejected
the accomodationist philosophy of Booker T. Washington which was the idea that everyone
should coincide as equal individuals. This was a more activist agenda, which celebrated black
culture, was also reflected in the efforts of Jamaican-born black nationalist Marcus Garvey,
whose populist Afro centric Back to Africa movement inspired racial pride among working-class
blacks.
The American Dream is depicted in some pictures as having a white house, 3 kids, and
white picket fence and a golden retriever. The "New Negro" wanted to have nothing to do with
this. Urban life in the city was ideal to most African Americans. In the age of Prohibition that
was far from the American Dream. Even if families looked perfect on the outside, as depicted in
The Great Gatsby, it didn't reflect the emotional turmoil caused by the war and other hardships
during this time period.
The Harlem Renaissance uplifted African Americans. Instead of regretting being black
they were encouraged to love and cherish their race. Their American Dream was no longer to be
physically free but spiritually free. Their American Dream was no longer to strive to be like the
"white man" but to be better than the "white man" and to be an upstanding black citizen. They
hoped to wipe the past away and to show that the black man can be upper class also.
Soon after the rise of the Harlem Renaissance and the Jazz era the stock market crashed.
The Great Depression put a damper on everyone's American Dream. It did not care what race,
religion or gender they were, everyone was hit hard. Soon after the Harlem Renaissance died
down. But the Harlem Renaissance still affects American culture in many different ways. The
N.A.A.C.P. is still working toward the advancement of African Americans. Jazz is a well
established music genre. The Harlem Renaissance will be documented in history as a
revolutionary change for African American culture.
African American culture started with slavery and endless bigotry and racism. The
Harlem Renaissance showed that African Americans can rise above and become upstanding
people. The American Dream changes with every passing genre but it was the roaring 20's and
the Jazz age that changed it first. The Harlem Renaissance changed not only music, art and
literature but people's view on the American Dream itself was affected.
Works Cited
Powell, Richard J.. "Art of the Harlem Renaissance." SIRS Knowledge SourceApri. April 1998. American Arts Media. 27 Mar 2008 <http://wf2dnvr1.webfeat.org>.
James, Marsha. "The Harlem Renaissance Remembered." voanews. 2 Feb 2005. 27 Mar 2008 <http://wf2dnvr1.webfeat.org>.
Spencer, Jon Michael. "THE BLACK CHURCH AND THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE ." EBSCOhost. August 1996. University of Richmond. 27 Mar 2008 <http://wf2dnr1.webfeat.org>.
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