Harlem Renaissance- Background Information

The Harlem Renaissance, also known as the New Negro Renaissance, was an African American cultural movement in the 1920s and 1930s. It was during a time period when many African Americans were moving from rural areas in the South to urban areas in the North after WWI. The movement started in the Harlem neighborhood of New York and spread throughout the United States. The movement greatly impacted literature, art, and music. Through literature, art, and music African Americans were able to express freedom, racial pride, a want for equality, and hope for a better future. These elements of art also expressed the hardships of slavery and racism, and how many African Americans were searching for a new identity with their newfound freedom. One of the main elements of the Harlem Renaissance is the diversity of expression. Although most artists expressed the same common theme, they expressed it in different ways. Music ranged from jazz to blues. Some artists had an abstract style while others used realism. Literature ranged from poetry to novels. There was no defined style of the Harlem Renaissance.

The Harlem Renaissance allowed artists to express their feeling about the past and the future. They could express their need and want for social equality. They could also tell their story and the struggles they went through because of their race. Many artists also expressed joy for their new freedom and opportunities, racial pride, and their hopes for the future.