Harlem Renaissance and African American Society

This paper explores the impact of the Harlem Renaissance on African American society. During this period, a number of African-American writers, musicians, painters and other artists produced some of their most iconic works that still influence our culture today. This paper will delve into the background of the movement and discuss its effects on African Americans then and now.

The Harlem Renaissance was a period in history when Black culture flourished in America after World War I. It began around 1918 with great enthusiasm among African-Americans who had been deprived of basic human rights for generations due to racism and segregationist policies. This newfound freedom found an outlet in art, music, literature and more. African-American authors such as Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston wrote stories and poems about life in Black communities and the struggles of African-Americans during this period. Musicians like Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong created jazz music that blended traditional African rhythms with American styles and quickly became popular all over the world. Visual artists such as Aaron Douglas and Augusta Savage created works of art that depicted African-American themes, while writers like Claude McKay wrote books on political issues regarding race in America at the time.

The Harlem Renaissance was a powerful movement that had both immediate and long-lasting effects on African Americans living during this period. It gave them a sense of pride to see their culture represented in various forms of media, which they had previously been denied access to due to discrimination. This newfound representation allowed Blacks to create more meaningful connections with one another, leading to the formation of political organizations such as the NAACP and social clubs like the Algonquin Round Table. It also brought greater awareness to African-American culture in mainstream society, helping to break down racial barriers that had previously been entrenched for centuries.

Today, we can still see the effects of the Harlem Renaissance on African Americans. While many of its progressions have been lost through time, there are numerous individuals who continue to carry on its legacy. From hip hop artists referencing classic literature by Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston in their lyrics to visual artists depicting contemporary issues concerning race relations in their work, the impact of this movement is still being felt today.