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The Harlem Renaissance refers to a time in American history during which the New York City neighborhood of Harlem became a focal point of African American culture. The period, which lasted from the 1910s to the mid-1930s, resulted in a huge surge of creativity among African Americans, which was expressed in many art forms, including literature, music, and stage performance. The influences of the Harlem Renaissance created a feeling of racial pride and helped to build a sense of community where African Americans could celebrate their heritage. These influences can still be seen, heard, and felt today.
Prior to the 1900s, the majority of African Americans were living in the rural South. However, by the early 1900s, many had begun to migrate North to escape racial tensions and in search of work, land, and new opportunities. Industrialization in the North meant factory owners were in need of cheap laborers and many blacks were eager for work after an insect infestation had destroyed crops in the South and left many out of jobs. This movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North, Midwest, and the West became know as the Great Migration. Harlem, which was initially intended to be a white upper-class neighborhood, now became home to an influx of African Americans seeking a new life. Much to their dismay, African Americans settling in Harlem were not always warmly welcomed by Northerners. Nevertheless, the migration brought together African Americans from all walks of life and backgrounds creating an ecclectic group of people that supported and inspired each other.
Some of the strongest influences to be born out of the Harlem Renaissance were in the area of music. The Jazz Age was already in motion and this period only served to increase it's popularity and wide-spread appeal. Some of the greatest jazz musicians of all time gained popularity during this period. Iconic names like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong can all be traced back to the time of the Harlem Renaissance when they performed, not only for the people of Harlem but for white audiences as well, from all parts of the city. Singers and musical performers were often accompanied by popular floor shows that featured tap dancers such as Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. Some of the most popular clubs in Harlem that showcased black performers were for white audiences only. One of the most famous of these nightspots was the Cotton Club, where greats such as Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway quickly rose to fame. Another musical creation of this period was the Harlem Stride, which referred to a new way of playing the piano that incorporated the rythmic sound of jazz. This style allowed for more artistic creativity than traditional piano playing, as many pianists used improvisation rather than sheet music, thereby making it uniquely their own.
Another thriving influence of the Harlem Renaissance was writing, during which time, works by African American writers became more widely accepted. Printed publications, as well as poetry, offered a venue for highlighting the specific struggles of the times. One such publication was a popular magazine called The Crisis, which was published 4 times a year by the NAACP, and is still in circulation today. In addition, writers used poetry as a way of expressing themselves which allowed them to convey to white readers some insight into their history, culture, and struggles as a black American. This gave way to a new art form called jazz poetry which mimics the rhymic and repetitive phrases of blues and jazz music. Langston Hughes, one of the most important writers of the Harlem Renaissance, was a pioneer of jazz poetry, as well as a playwright and novelist. With black writers gaining mainstream appeal, many publishing houses began to publish their works, such as the well-known novel by Zora Neale Hurston called Their Eyes Were Watching God and works by Claude McCay.
The Harlem Renaissance ended in the mid 1930s after the effects of the Great-depression set in. This ecomic disaster lead to many of the writers to move out of the Harlem neighborhood. Leading to lots of unemployment for people in the city. 1 in 10 individuals in the U.S. Employed population were now left with no work. This would then lead to a population decrease, which was actually a good thing because the population in Harlem had overfilled during the time of The Harlem Renaissance. The great depression had the hardest impact during the Harlem Renaissance and was one of the main reasons on why it came to an end. The Great-depression was caused by the stock market crash on October 29, 1929. As the economy hit lots of the famous artists lost their jobs due to people not being able to afford to waste their money on tickets and such anymore. Although the various musicians lost their jobs, people such as Langston Hughes and Louis Armstong had carrers that would carry on. The Harlem Renaissance proved that people from any race could make a name for themselves and become very influenctial. The black pride inspired Martin Luther King to stand up and speak for equality.
As you can see, The Harlem Renaissance was a very influential time period for black culture. This time period shaped what black culture is today and is considered the golden age for African American Culture. Wether or not it was music, poetry, or sports, many African Americans created a movement for black culture that would change our history forever. Their black pride and power would overturn the entire town for good. Many of their influences can and still will be heard to this day. If it wasnt for the Harlem Renaissance, where would black culture be today? How would equality be shaped today? Would whites and blacks have different privledges? I hope the information I have provided you helps you to understand more about what the Harlem Renaissance was and how influential it really was to Black culture.
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