During the 1920’s, also known as “The Roaring Twenties”, the United States of America faced an age of climactic social, economical, and political revolution. For the very first time, more citizens of America lived in cities than on farms, so urbanization was at its peaked.
Also, while President Warren Harding and President Calvin Coolidge were in office, many companies grew larger, creating new jobs. As wages for most Americans increased, the economy of the country doubled from 1920, all the way to 1929. Not to mention, Americas provoked Prohibition, giving rein to a variety of modernistic dancing and clothing styles. Although, The Roaring Twenties were widely recognized for these feats, what happened in Harlem, New York was truly remarkable and will never be forgotten by many African-Americas that has ever step foot on planet Earth. The Harlem Renaissance is one of the most influential time periods for Blacks and for art in general. It was the development of artistic intelligence amongst Black and African-American communities. Although, many bystanders at the time regarded the Harlem Renaissance as a “cultural movement”, it exemplified more than what was fathomable to the average mind. According to HISTORY.
COM, “The Harlem Renaissance was 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.” The Harlem Renaissance provided a variety of ways for African-Americans to express and embrace their Black heritage. For instance, jazz, the most popular music genre during the 1920’s that was created by African-Americans, captured the carefree spirit of the times. Jazz flouted many musical conventions with its syncopated rhythms and improvised instrumental solos. Jazz is essential because it is one of the biggest parts of the puzzle in flourishing the acknowledgment of the harmonious talent of African-Americans.
Without jazz, people wouldn’t appreciate African-American culture, and many of other music genres wouldn’t have existed in this day in age. No doubt, jazz is one the greatest inventions that helped African-Americans express their emotions, and it also influenced plenty of figures to take part of the Harlem Renaissance.? In the midst of Harlem Renaissance, there were a plethora of prominent African-American figures who were driven and passionate about changing how society perceived them as. Just to name a few, Claude McKay, Arna Wendell Bontemps, Marcus Garvey, Countee Cullen, James Weldon Johnson, etc. By far, the most influential leader of the Harlem Renaissance was Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes, a critically acclaimed poet and widely considered as the greatest poet of US history, wrote plays, a novel, short stories, and composed lyrics to multiple jazz songs.
His contributions to the literature of the Harlem Renaissance encouraged other black poets to be themselves. Langston Hughes changed how masses of other Americans and bystanders thought of Black people. The Harlem Renaissance had a monumental impact on society. The Harlem Renaissance helped redefine how Americans and the world deciphered African-American heritage. The revolutionary era desegregated Black and Caucasian cultures, and established a milestone in urban areas of black society. Correspondingly, the Harlem Renaissance marked the beginning of the Civil Rights movement, which abolished segregation. Without the occurrence of the Harlem Renaissance, society in America would be completely divergent. As been noted, The Harlem Renaissance was the development of artistic intelligence amongst Black and African-American communities.
The Harlem Renaissance has a special place in each and every African-American’s heart, mind, and soul across the nation.
