Annessa Young

Professor Underwood

CHIS WISE 202

April 27, 2011

The Harlem Renaissance

 

The Harlem Renaissance: Uplifting the African American Culture

 

The Harlem Renaissance was a renewal and flourishing of black literary and musical culture during the years after World War I which started approximately around 1914 and ended around 1919, in the Harlem section of New York City. Having a love for the arts has provided the motivation needed to write this paper. This topic is also very historical, and creative, literally and figuratively. But, overall it is something different instead of writing about World Wars and the Civil Rights Movement; it is imperative to know the history of where “black arts” comes from. The Harlem Renaissance was the most influential times of cultural black history, in so many different aspects. The Harlem Renaissance helped “black folk” in ways that catapulted them to a higher level in the arts, music, and literature. All of this is important because now in the 21st century and then in the 20th century, the Harlem Renaissance enabled African Americans to express their feelings through the arts and it also created a trend for other generations because then  they (other generations) felt that they could express their feelings too through the arts. In essence, the historical significance of the Harlem Renaissance in the 20th century gave African Americans the opportunity to display their arts, and it also set up the next generation to continue the cultural movement. This topic fits to “The Times” because now the arts in the African Americans culture is still going strong, and the movement has yet to cease. Dealing with certain social elements, even though African Americans went through racism, discrimination and suppression the Harlem Renaissance in essence enlightened the African American culture and became an inspiration for today’s society not just in the African American realm. Why was the Harlem Renaissance such a significance, and historical movement to history? It is evident that the Harlem Renaissance ultimately uplifted the African American race through literature and music, thus defying the dominant culture’s stereotypical perspectives.

Around the times of 1914 to 1919 slavery was at its lowest point. Slaves were moving from the South to the North to really obtain their freedom and actually feel free. The dominant culture (Caucasians) did not feel that black slaves or former black slaves were in the right mind frame and position to be free. Since they had been conformed to one way of life they would not know how to live and survive on their own, is exactly what they thought. The dominant culture basically felt as if the blacks were going to be unintelligent when they received freedom. Unintelligent speaks for all aspects; artily and intellectually. Therefore, [1]Thomas Jefferson states, “In music they are more generally gifted than the whites with accurate ears for tune and time . . . Whether they will be equal to the composition of a more extensive run of melody, or of complicated harmony, is yet to be proved. Misery is often the parent of the most affecting touches in poetry. —among the blacks is misery enough, God knows, but no poetry.” Thomas Jefferson was a part of the dominant white culture. Jefferson admitted that blacks were better than the dominant cultures in music, but then he goes to say that in poetry blacks are basically not. However, how could this be true when not only black men but black women in the Harlem Renaissance used there knowledge of reading and writing i.e. literature? [2]In reference to Judith Musser he explains that black women essentially set the bar for all blacks during the time period. They were able to read and write their stories, and this made it possible for the others. For example, Langston Hughes published many successful poems during this time. Such as, The Negro Speaks of Rivers in 1921. He then came back in the same year with a different poem called The Gold Piece, and in 1927 came out with another poem called The Weary Blues. So the notion that blacks were basically inferior in poetry is obviously not true because it is known that the Harlem Renaissance was the blacks ability to show there place and show that indeed they did have a mind and they could think on all levels; thus showing how African Americans defied what was said by other dominant cultures and prospered in music and literature.

  Slavery was one of the most dreadful times in history. In order for the slaves to get through hardships such as working on plantations, they believed in a higher power. The slave’s tradition of receiving their higher power was through worship songs. The most known genre of music that slaves used while on the plantation fields or while they were doing work period were Negro Spirituals. Negro Spirituals were a type of religious songs by Black slaves in the American South. Various songs included Wade in the Water, The Gospel Train, and Swing Low all songs about one day being able to get out of the dark day of bondage as being slaves, and also Wade in the Water was an escape song used to tell slaves when it was time to run free. As an effect to the Harlem Renaissance Negro Spirituals were swept through the Renaissanc movement during this time in the 19th century. [3]According to Leonard Diepeveen, Leonard explains that folktales became extremely popular to the Harlem Renaissance. More specifically and importantly the Negro Spirituals in the folktales is just a component of what made it so popular. Although, Negro Spirituals were a reality escape for slaves, during slavery, slave owners did not accept it. In essence, the most significant thing to realize about this is the fact that even though the Negro Spirituals were frowned upon back then during slavery, it graced the Harlem Renaissance movement with rich culture and critics were encouraged by the tradition of it. The meaning behind it is that people who were not even slaves felt the meaning of the songs and understood it, it kind of put them in their shoes; thus showing that music played a vital role in this movement and that it uplifted the culture. [4]According to Gerald Early the Harlem Renaissance was a way for Blacks to show them selves worthy; he says we overcame the oppressors of slavery and made history through the arts; which was the best way they knew how to express their feelings.

There were many brave pioneers that made it possible for the Harlem Renaissance to be so effective and for it to be a winning movement in history making it so significant. [5]As stated by George C. Wright, he states that major black people in the Harlem Renaissance inspired others through there love of arts. One of the most known men to inspire people in the Harlem Renaissance was Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes was a popular poet, novelist, playwright, and columnist, who wrote on African American freedom, and equality, and a plethora of other aspects that had to do with them.  Charles S. Johnson and E. Franklin Frazier who were American sociologists and very strong advocates for the advancement of the African American Civil Rights Movement also encouraged Blacks in the Harlem Renaissance. [6]Charles S. Johnson mainly influenced blacks during this time through a magazine called Opporunity: a Journal of Negro Life. He used this magazine to encourage young black writers and artists to elevate themselves and also he showed support to them too. Rudolph Fisher who was known for a number of things but mostly for being a radiologist and writer influenced through arts during the Harlem Renaissance. [7]Rudolph Fisher was so significant in the Harlem Renaissance for being the first black writer to publish a literary work in The Atlantic Monthly; his work was called, The City of Refuge. Lastly, but only amongst the many more successful African Americans during this time is Hubert T. Delaney, who was a judge and also an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement who only inclined the Harlem Renaissance to make it so much more essential. However, these few people that have been listed have been influenced by other important pioneers as well. [8]In a speech in 1903 W. E. B Dubois encouraged the whole African American race. He said that in order for blacks to become successful in this dominant culture’s society they had to pursue a higher education. Obviously black people took the speech that was spoken by him in to consideration and used it to their different advantages in their own ways. Black advocates and activists, and pioneers of the Harlem Renaissance like Langston Hughes, Charles S. Johnson, E. Franklin Frazier, Rudolph Fisher, and Hubert T. Delaney used what W.E.B Dubois said and educated other blacks in the community to be the best they could be. Not only did they say it but they said it through there actions. They showed the community and the world what they could maybe fit into this sort of set up society.

It is definitely agreed that the Harlem Renaissance allowed the African Americans to express their feelings through music and literature, but it gave African Americans a sense of self. In all actuality they did not know who they were. Fresh out of slavery, not really knowing the in and outs to the real world and to life, but only knowing the act of being some one else’s property they were in a search for identity of who they were as a culture, community, and who they were in society. They knew who they were to someone else but they did not know who they were to themselves. The Harlem Renaissance is essential to history because the African Americans were finding out who they were. It gave them the opportunity to find out who that person really was. After a person goes through something it can be hard to gain strength, and during the time of struggle one can lose there way and themselves. Before this time African Americans were seen as inhumane beings and by some were still seen as inhumane beings during this time; so they had to show themselves worthy some how, and they did it through the arts. Even now the dominant cultures in today’s society look at blacks as inhumane beings. It may not be as vocal as it was but it still is. [9]According to Richard A. Long the Harlem Renaissance was, “a…motif presence of race consciousness…merely as an assertion of an essential identity.” Saying that skin color played a major factor in the Harlem Renaissance and also explaining that the blacks were also worried about what they looked like as far as race or color since they were not a part of the dominant culture. So this is why identity really needed to be found because they were the inferior and the minority of society who did not “fit in” so to speak.

The Harlem Renaissance is still in effect today. Not saying literally but it has rolled over into today’s generation one could say. The music that the 21st century generation listens to and the poetry that this generation is involved in has stemmed from the Harlem Renaissance whether one knows it or not. If it was not for the people that came before the people who are still doing it now the arts which include literature and music would be influencing or important but not as important, because then there would be no meaning behind it. It is like doing something with no motive.  [10]As told by Roger F. Williams, Harlem was a place that was known for poverty, but was a place that was turned into something that was so influencing that is still affecting the world today for its fullness of rich culture. It is known ultimately as the Harlem Renaissance and it uplifted the African American race through music and literature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

Diepeveen, Leonard. Folktales in the Harlem Renaissance, 64-81. Illinois: Duke University           Press, 1986.

Dubois, W.E.B, The Talented Tenth, Ashland University,     http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=174.

Early, Gerald. Callaloo: The Notes Toward a Cultural Definition of the Harlem Renaissance,        136-149. Maryland: The John Hopkins University Press, Winter.

George C. Wright, “Review: Harlem Renaissance: Art of Black America,” The Journal of             American History, Vol 77, no. 1 (1990): 253-261.          

Jefferson, Thomas, Notes on the State of Virginia, ed. David Waldstreicher, Avalon Project at       Yale Law School, 2005. http://www.historytools.org/sources/Jefferson-Race.pdf.

Judith, Musser, “African American Women’s Short Stories in the Harlem Renaissance: Bridging a Tradition,” Mellus, Vol 23, no. 2 (Summer 1998): 27-47.

Long, Richard A. One  More Time: Harlem Renaissance History & Historicism, 2006.

Reuben, Paul, “Perspectives in American Literature,” 2010. http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap9/fisher.html. (April 27, 2011)

[1]Jefferson, Thomas, “Notes on the State of Virginia,” http://www.historytools.org (April 13, 2011)

 

[2] Judith, Musser, “African American Women’s Short Stories in the Harlem Renaissance: Bridging a Tradition,” Mellus. (1998)

[3] Diepeveen, Leonard, “Folktales in the Harlem Renaissance.” Illinois: Duke University Press. (1986)

[4]Early, Gerald, “Callaloo: The Notes Toward a Cultural Definition of the Harlem Renaissance,” Maryland: The John Hopkins University Press. (1991)

[5] Wright, George C., “Review: Harlem Renaissance: Art of Black America,” The Journal of          American History. (1990)

[6]Reuben, Paul P., “Perspectives in American Literature,” http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap9/fisher.html. (April 27, 2011)

[7]Ibid.

[8]Dubois, W.E.B, “The Talented Tenth,” Ashland University, http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=174. (April 13, 2011)

 

[9] Long, Richard A. One More Time: Harlem Renaissance History & Historicism, 2006.

 

[10] Rogers, William F. Black Music Research Journal, 223-236. Illinois: University of Illinois Press,           1988.