📖English Literature – 1850 to 1950 Unit 4 – The Harlem Renaissance

Historical Context

• Emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, a time of significant social and cultural change in the United States
• Followed the Great Migration, during which many African Americans moved from the rural South to urban areas in the North (Harlem, Chicago, Detroit)
• Coincided with the Jazz Age, a period of artistic experimentation and cultural liberation
• Influenced by the aftermath of World War I and the rise of African American activism and civil rights movements
• Occurred during the Prohibition era, which led to the growth of speakeasies and underground cultural scenes
• Took place against the backdrop of racial segregation and discrimination, including the Jim Crow laws in the South
• Benefited from the increased availability of education and opportunities for African Americans, though still limited compared to white Americans

Key Figures and Writers

• Langston Hughes, a poet, novelist, and playwright known for his vivid portrayals of African American life and culture
  • Wrote "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" and "Harlem (Dream Deferred)"
• Zora Neale Hurston, an anthropologist and author who celebrated African American folklore and dialect in her works
  • Authored "Their Eyes Were Watching God" and "Mules and Men"
• Claude McKay, a Jamaican-born poet and novelist who explored themes of race, class, and identity
  • Wrote "If We Must Die" and "Home to Harlem"
• Countee Cullen, a poet and playwright who blended classical forms with African American themes
  • Composed "Heritage" and "Incident"
• Jean Toomer, a poet and novelist who experimented with modernist techniques and explored mixed-race identity
  • Wrote "Cane," a collection of poetry and short stories
• W.E.B. Du Bois, a sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist who played a crucial role in shaping the intellectual foundations of the Harlem Renaissance
  • Authored "The Souls of Black Folk" and founded the NAACP
• Alain Locke, a philosopher and critic who promoted African American art and literature through his anthology "The New Negro"

Literary Themes and Styles

• Exploration of African American identity, heritage, and culture, often in the context of racism and discrimination
• Celebration of black pride and the unique experiences of African Americans
• Use of vernacular language, dialect, and jazz-influenced rhythms in poetry and prose
• Incorporation of African American folklore, spirituals, and oral traditions
• Experimentation with modernist techniques, such as fragmentation, stream of consciousness, and nonlinear narratives
• Examination of the complexities of race, class, and gender in African American communities
• Emphasis on the importance of art and literature in promoting social and political change
• Exploration of the urban experience and the impact of the Great Migration on African American life and culture

Notable Works

• "The Weary Blues" (1926) by Langston Hughes, a poetry collection that captures the rhythms and spirit of jazz and blues music
• "Their Eyes Were Watching God" (1937) by Zora Neale Hurston, a novel that follows the life of an African American woman in the South
• "Home to Harlem" (1928) by Claude McKay, a novel that depicts the vibrant cultural scene of Harlem and the challenges faced by African American characters
• "The New Negro" (1925) edited by Alain Locke, an influential anthology that showcased the works of emerging African American writers and artists
• "Cane" (1923) by Jean Toomer, a collection of poetry and short stories that explores the lives of African Americans in the rural South and urban North
• "The Walls of Jericho" (1928) by Rudolph Fisher, a novel that satirizes the social and political dynamics of Harlem during the Renaissance
• "Passing" (1929) by Nella Larsen, a novel that examines issues of race, identity, and "passing" in African American society

Cultural Impact

• Promoted a new sense of pride and identity among African Americans, challenging stereotypes and asserting their cultural contributions
• Encouraged the development of African American art, music, and literature, leading to a flourishing of creativity across various media
• Influenced the broader American cultural landscape, introducing white audiences to African American experiences and artistic expressions
• Contributed to the growth of African American intellectual and political movements, such as the NAACP and the civil rights movement
• Inspired future generations of African American artists and writers, who continued to build upon the legacy of the Harlem Renaissance
• Helped to establish Harlem as a center of African American culture and a symbol of black achievement and resilience
• Challenged the dominant narratives of American history and culture, asserting the importance of African American perspectives and experiences

Artistic Movements

• Jazz poetry, which incorporated the rhythms, improvisations, and themes of jazz music into poetic forms
  • Exemplified by the works of Langston Hughes and Sterling Brown
• The New Negro movement, which emphasized the importance of African American self-expression, pride, and cultural autonomy
  • Promoted by Alain Locke's anthology "The New Negro" and the works of various artists and writers
• Negritude, a literary and ideological movement that celebrated African heritage and culture, influenced by the Harlem Renaissance
  • Developed by Francophone African and Caribbean writers such as Aimé Césaire and Léopold Sédar Senghor
• Modernism, an artistic and literary movement that emphasized experimentation, innovation, and a break from traditional forms
  • Adopted by many Harlem Renaissance writers, who incorporated modernist techniques into their works
• The Chicago Black Renaissance, a parallel movement that emerged in Chicago during the 1930s and 1940s
  • Featured writers such as Richard Wright and Gwendolyn Brooks

Legacy and Influence

• Paved the way for the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s by promoting African American pride, activism, and cultural expression
• Inspired subsequent generations of African American artists, writers, and musicians, who continued to explore themes of identity, race, and social justice
• Contributed to the development of African American studies as an academic discipline, encouraging the study and celebration of African American history and culture
• Influenced the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, which emphasized the importance of black self-determination and cultural nationalism
• Helped to establish African American literature as a distinct and valuable part of the American literary canon
• Encouraged the preservation and celebration of African American cultural heritage, including music, dance, and folklore
• Continues to be celebrated and studied as a pivotal moment in African American history and a testament to the resilience and creativity of the African American community

Critical Analysis

• Debates surrounding the relationship between art and politics during the Harlem Renaissance, with some critics arguing for a more explicit focus on social and political issues
• Discussions of the role of white patrons and audiences in shaping the production and reception of African American art and literature during the period
• Examination of the tensions between the celebration of African American folk culture and the desire for "high art" and cultural sophistication
• Analysis of the intersections of race, class, and gender in the works of Harlem Renaissance writers and artists
• Exploration of the influence of African and African American cultural traditions on the artistic innovations of the Harlem Renaissance
• Consideration of the Harlem Renaissance as part of a broader transnational movement of black cultural and political assertion, including connections to the Caribbean and Africa
• Evaluation of the lasting impact and legacy of the Harlem Renaissance on American and global culture, as well as its role in shaping contemporary discussions of race, identity, and social justice