Hughes And The Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance was “variously known as the New Negro movement, the New Negro Renaissance, and the Negro Renaissance, the movement emerged toward the end of World War I in 1918, blossomed in the mid- to late 1920s, and then withered in the mid-1930s. The Harlem Renaissance marked the first time mainstream publishers, critics took African American literature seriously, and that African American literature and arts attracted significant attention from the nation as a whole (1).”

The Harlem Renaissance was the birth of African American freedom as well as their roots to their culture. The Blacks were no longer “something to be argued about, condemned or defended” as well as to not be "kept down," or "put in their place," or "helped up,"(Alain Locke). This new philosophy introduced in “Enter the New Negro” by Alain Locke, had tried to get the African race to divert from the ways of the “Old Negro”. This new movement and way of thinking had laid the foundation for the African Americans to assimilate and become equals to the whites by breaking the mindset of dependence, servitude, and helplessness. The author showed the how the status of African Americans in the 1920's is changing by explaining how the "New Negro" can now accept themselves of whatever color they are despite society discriminating them. Locke states that since the ”'spite-wall' that the intellectuals built over the 'color-line' has happily been taken down.", the "New Negro" finally has the courage to not let society bring them down mentally and physically and how to stand up for themselves. By being able to focus less on self-preservation and becoming equals, the artistic talent in the African American community was able to further bloom and develop.

History.com (2009) describes the Harlem Renaissance movement as “a literary, artistic, and intellectual movement that kindled a new black cultural identity.” The 1920s and 1930s emcompass a time in history where blacks found themselves ostracized from mainstream society. It was uncommon to see the expressions of black artistry in everyday life, especially on a literary level.

The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural and social movement that occurred due to black migration to the north increasing the social and economic boom. Langston Hughes is one of the influential African Americans that contributed to the Harlem Renaissance, by writing about events and his surroundings, his work was able to help struggling African Americans. Langston Hughes was born in February 1, in 1902 in Missouri. He began writing poetry while living in Lincoln, Illinois and years later he launched his literary career with his poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”. Most of his writings were influenced by his upbringing in New York City’s Harlem, which was a predominantly black community.

In the heart of the Harlem Renaissance, Zora Neale Hurston once said, "I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow damned up in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes.... No I do not weep at the world-I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife." (Hardy 131). As one of the most famous Harlem Renaissance writers, Zora Neale Hurston embraced her race and sought to empower other African Americans. She had a big part in the Harlem Renaissance, creating stories that would later be used to inspire other people. The Harlem Renaissance was originally called the New Negro Movement in the early years. It was considered a literary and intellectual movement that created new black cultural expression in the 1920s and 1930s. Since racism was high and

It was in Harlem, New York. During this time Alain Locke named the Harlem Renaissance the “New Negro Movement.” The article Harlem Renaissance by History, states the Harlem Renaissance as “the development of the Harlem neighborhood in New York City as a black cultural mecca in the early 20th Century and the subsequent social and artistic explosion that resulted.” It was named from the culture of African Americans. There was artist, writers, actors, poets, fashion, and more. The Harlem Renaissance was famous for its artistry. The journal Alain Locke written by Beth Helen Stickney, mentions some famous people from the Harlem Renaissance who are Claude McKay, Alain LeRoy Locke, Aaron Douglas, Marcus Garvey, Zora Neale Hurston, Duke Ellington, Josephine Baker, and W. E. B. Du Bois, just to name a few. These are famous poets, activist, musicians, and more. These are some examples of what Alain Locke was describing the metaphor, the “New Negro.” Alain Locke writing is during the Harlem Renaissance and he references Harlem multiple of times within his work. This essay and this movement is significant to each other because of the idea each had on society. The essay the New Negro explain the new and expanded mind of an African American after slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction period, and World War 1. The Harlem Renaissance was the growth of African American

The Harlem Renaissance, also known as the New Negro Movement, is a time period in American history that bred the likes of Langston Hughes, W.E.B Dubois, and Zora Neale Hurston. Despite the name, the Harlem Renaissance is not exclusive to the city of Harlem. The Harlem Renaissance period is an “interdisciplinary cultural movement” (Jones 2008) that unleashed creativity in the African American community and allowed the ingenuity of the community to be shared with the world. The Harlem Renaissance is the beginning of the age of modernism. This artistic movement included creative explosions in the areas of literature, poetry, dance, and music. Fifty-five years after the abolishment of slavery, descendants of former slaves move their families up

It was a safe haven for the historically tyrannized black community; Harlem was a place the black community could flourish without the fear if other groups’ unapproval or obstruction. In this time, African American culture blossomed, and names such as Duke Ellington, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Alain Locke became household name. This era, which would become to be known as the Harlem Renaissance, allowed blacks to break free of the limitations they had felt in the South; African Americans went from being objectified and devalued, to being misplaced in Southern society, to finding their cultural voice in Harlem. Through artistic pursuits by the age’s most memorable blacks, the Harlem Renaissance changed the social perception of blacks in America and heavily contributed to the rise of the mid-1900’s Black Civil Rights

The movement known as Harlem Renaissance or the New Negro Movement is an intricate and important event in African-American cultural history. In the second half of the 1920s, with the dramatic upsurge of creativity in literature, music, and art within black Africa, the movement reaches its zenith. By exploring and probing racial themes and analyze what it means to be Black, both ethnic and cultural consciousnesses awaken among blacks and they want to be a new Negro and a new black American identity. Many scholars and writers involve in the movement, like Langston Hughes honored as the “Poet Laureate of Black People”; Alain Locke, an editor of an anthology the New Negro: An Interpretation, regarded as the definitive text in the movement; James

The Harlem Renaissance was a period of explosive cultural and intellectual growth for the African Americans because it was a literary, artistic, and intellectual movement that kindled a new black cultural identity. The Harlem Renaissance took place in Harlem, New York City during the 1920-1930’s. Many of the things that came about during the Harlem Renaissance were things such as jazz, poetry, dance, music theaters, and black writers. This time was also known as the New Negro Movement, was considered a phenomenon and made Harlem the center for art and literature. The Harlem Renaissance was the most influential period for cultural black history, in many different aspects.

From the 1920’s to the mid 1930’s a literary, intellectual, and artistic movement occurred that kindled the African Americans a new cultural identity. This movement became known as the Harlem Renaissance, which is also known as the “New Negro Movement”. With this movement, African Americans sought out to challenge the “Negro” stereotype that they had received from others while developing innovation and great cultural activity. The Harlem Renaissance became an artistic explosion in the creative arts. Thus, many African Americans turned to writing, art, music, and theatrics to express their selves.

during this time he quickly became a part of the Harlem Renaissance. Four years later,

Harlem Renaissance, a blossoming (c. 1918–37) of African American culture, particularly in the creative arts, and the most influential movement in African American literary history. Embracing literary, musical, theatrical, and visual arts, participants sought to reconceptualize “the Negro” apart from the white stereotypes that had influenced black peoples’ relationship to their heritage and to each other. They also sought to break free of Victorian moral values and bourgeois shame about aspects of their lives that might, as seen by whites, reinforce racist beliefs. Never dominated by a particular school of thought but rather characterized by intense debate, the movement laid the groundwork for all later African American literature and had

An explosion of written and artistic creativity, a time of social awareness and enlightenment among the black race. The Harlem Renaissance, originally known as ‘The New Negro Movement’, began after the first world war and lasted until the middle of the 1930’s depression. Harlem became a destination for African Americans throughout the early 1900’s as part of the great migration. As more blacks made Harlem their home, it increasingly became well known as an African American cultural center. Poets, writers, artists, musicians, and philosophers all played a key part in this new movement. The Harlem Renaissance brought about uniqueness and the celebration of individuality and ethnic pride among African Americans; everything was modern and fresh. The jazz, the visual arts and color pop while fashion and literature took a cultural twirl towards revolutionary change. This was a period of unprecedented artistic and intellectual achievement among black Americans. This explosion of art and literature led to the birth of African American consciousness. Music was a key component during this time and became the cynosure for jazz bands and blues. Famous Jazz performers including Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday perfected their music and rhythmic closure which became very popular among white audiences. And it was also during this time when the piano was incorporated into the jazz form of music but traditional

First, in order to better understand Hughes and his works, it’s important to familiarize oneself with his childhood and early influences. Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri during the Jim Crow era. Hughes began writing poetry at just age thirteen thanks to racial stereotyping, however, it wouldn’t be until after dropping out of Columbia University and traveling the world working odd jobs would he have the time and incentive to write and