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  • Essay / The Harlem Renaissance and its role in African American culture

    At the beginning of the 20th century, a period of flourishing of African American culture began, manifesting itself in literature, music, art and the theater. After enduring so much pain and suffering from slavery and the endless struggle to end it, the end had brought him such a promising and sweet reward. Despite the racism many still face, they have managed to ignore it and explode in their cultural pride. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The Harlem Renaissance became known as the “New Negro Movement” and began as part of the Great Migration. Living in the South, black people constantly faced racism, especially when Jim Crow laws took effect. Hoping for a better life, many African Americans packed up their belongings and headed North. Unfortunately, the North wasn't very welcoming either. Although Northern state governments did not prevent African Americans from migrating to the North, many Northerners were angry at the decision. Taking full advantage of the new industrial jobs available, African Americans began to rebuild their lives. Create a black urban culture by denouncing racial prejudice as well as political, social and economic challenges. As many African Americans lived in the North, white workers began to complain about the rising job market. Many African Americans were forced to live in ghettos, the largest being in Harlem. There, artists, actors, writers, and musicians were created constructing and venerating black traditions. The explosion of creativity immediately began in all aspects of art. Harlem has attracted many successful and uniquely styled artists. African Americans were determined and inspired to celebrate their heritage and become this cultural movement known as the “New Negro Movement.” A famous artist at this time who represented New Negro thought was Aaron Douglas. Aaron was a Harlem Renaissance artist who created murals for public buildings and numerous covers. His style created a representation of the "Negro" subject using his own style of geometric figures. The recognizable black character silhouettes caught the attention of many, making him one of the most memorable artists of that era. Writing was another popular element during the Renaissance period. Two of the most important breakthroughs were Langston Hughes and Jean Toomer. Much like Douglas, Hughes used a specific style that everyone found interesting to write his stories. This style was the use of blues and jazz. Hughes wanted to reflect black culture, including both their suffering and their love of music. Jean Toomer was another famous writer, he was known for his plays and short stories. One of his most famous books was called Cane. Toomer was praised for his use of poetry with a mix of short stories that showed the realities and hardships experienced by African Americans. Kenneth Rexroth praised Toomer, saying, "Toomer is the first poet to unite popular culture and the elite culture of the white avant-garde," he went on to add, "and he accomplishes this difficult task with considerable success. He is without a doubt the most important black poet. » Jazz was the one aspect of the Harlem Renaissance that shaped America and the entire world. Jazz has challenged many.