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And what exactly was this “thing” called the Harlem Renaissance? Those are some of the questions that I am precisely going to answer here… World War I started the Harlem Renaissance in the year 1916 and continued throughout the sass’s. This movement known as the Harlem Renaissance could also be called “The Great Migration” since millions of African Americans who were tired and extremely fed up with all the racism against them, settled in New York, migrated, Harlem was filled with life, as in creativity; the air was filled with it.
Harlem was the place to be for any African American who wanted to get out of the life of discrimination they had, and have a new life filled with freedom of expression. Training in the arts was provided in Harlem; for instance being trained artistically, musically and also being trained to express their literary talents as well. All of these components gave birth to what is known as the Harlem Renaissance. In addition, the Harlem Renaissance wasn’t only a rebellious movement against the whites at the mime, it was also a literary movement, a literary movement that kicked off in a dinner on March 21, 1924.
Various types of writers, either white or black united in this historical dinner. Organizations such as the National Urban League and the Advancement of Colored People were responsible for publishing Journals of what it was like being “black in a white dominated world” – (McDougal Little Literature, Grade 11, pig. 830); these Journals were written by Counted Culled, Zorn Neal Hurst and Longboats Hughes. These writers also expressed what it was like being called the “new negro”, well educated African Americans with strong racial pride.
As a matter of fact, strings were pulled so that the anthology of “The New Negro” could be published in 1925. Another writer like Jean Toomey was more driven in exploring his own identity rather than African American themselves. Even though these writers had different points of views towards the Harlem Renaissance they all shared the same honor and pride for who they were, the New Negroes -?? well educated African Americans with throng racial pride.
Regardless of all the progress the members of the Harlem Renaissance had gained, it all came to an end when the economy dropped because of the Great Depression. Due to the pitiful economy, the writers of this time had to go elsewhere to find other Jobs that would be able to sustain their families. Even though this happened and the Harlem Renaissance came to an end, this was Just the beginning for African American writers everywhere. In conclusion, the Harlem Renaissance was not only a historical movement that World War I began and the
Great Depression ended. It wasn’t Just a way for artist and writers to rebel against the whites. It was more than that. It was a way a way of individual expression, and finally being able to have honor and pride of where they came from and who they were. Although the Harlem Renaissance only lasted a little more than 20 years, it was an end to that particular movement but the beginning of African American writers standing up for their culture and heritage trough music, art and writing all around the world.