Throughout history, writers have been religiously recording the important events and emotions humanity has felt during the cheerful and depressing time. Authors, poets, and musicians have a special ability to get in touch with people’s emotions, but the artists of the Harlem Renaissance were exceptional at conveying their point of view to others. Many life changing events happened during the Harlem Renaissance, as well as the Roaring ‘20s. Of all of the writing periods the Harlem Renaissance preserved history through the diverse forms of art and writing that was produced during that time. During the Roaring ‘20s, new ideas, thoughts and dreams started to sprout. Music started to evolve and literature captured the changes in society. This change …show more content…
Writers at this time were looking for what little light they could find, or expressed their sorrow in elegant stories and poetry. Donald Justice, an upperclassman, records his observations in the bleak poem, Pantoum of the Great Depression. “At no time did anyone say anything in verse. It was the ordinary pities and fears consumed us, And if we suffered we kept quiet about it. No audience would ever know our story” (Justice). This quote expertly conveys the feelings of many people in the Great Depression. No one wanted to complain about their troubles, because everyone had the same or worse problems. Justice’s view is very intriguing because of his being an upperclassman. He did not have to deal with as many hardships as other families and people had to, so his perspective as an onlooker looking on people struggle is the same view that people in the present have now. They did not live through the Great Depression, but they can understand Justice’s point of view as someone who also didn’t go through many trials. Justice’s words are an important part of history and leave a powerful impact on those who read …show more content…
They are passed down, interpreted different ways by each person that hears them, and can change the entire course of someone’s life. Music can have the same the same impact. In the 1920’s, Jazz and the blues became increasingly popular because of the freeing feeling young people got from listening and dancing to it. The new sound was shunned by the older generation because of the ““vulgarity” and “depravity” (and the “moral disasters” it supposedly inspired), but many in the younger generation loved the freedom they felt on the dance floor.” (History.com Staff) This type of music has lasted through almost a hundred years now, and still brings people the same freeing feeling it did when it was first discovered. Jazz is a type of music that is improvised. Each instrument in the band will get a mini solo that they improv to show off their skills. The swinging rhythms and varying tempos tell the story of the composer. Music from the Harlem Renaissance tells the stories of those who lived through it, and continues to inspire people today. History is an important subject to learn, because of the mistakes humanity has made. Students now and students in the future need to know the truth of what happened so they do not make the same errors. The literature and music from the Harlem Renaissance contains important lessons from history that cannot be forgotten. It includes the stories of African Americans who finally are finally able to use their
The Harlem Renaissance was a period of great cultural growth in the black community. It is accepted that it started in 1918 and lasted throughout the 1930s. Though named the ‘Harlem’ Renaissance, it was a country-wide phenomenon of pride and development among black Americans, the likes of which had never existed in such grand scale. Among the varying political actions and movements for equality, a surge of new art appeared: musical, visual, and even theatre. With said surge, many of the most well-known black authors, poets, musicians and actors rose to prevalence including Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Louis Armstrong, and Eulalie Spence.
(Cruz, 1999) Harlem Renaissance was a significant period in music history, this was the outbreak of jazz and the African roots movement and influencing the visual arts. Music played an important role in the slaves lives in cultivating knowledge and unity. Frederick Douglass’s, Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave, where he writes about the profound meanings of the songs that the slaves would sing, which would paint a picture of the turmoil and woe through the loud, deep and long tones in their voices. (Lemke, 1998)
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This is an extremely powerful and selfless statement. What I believe he is saying is, regardless of where injustice was taking place, it affected him and everyone around him. “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” He
Throughout 1920 and 1940, the Harlem Renaissance flourished. Also known as the “Roaring Twenties” and the “Jazz age,” the Harlem Renaissance's roots came from African American’s culture spreading throughout America, teaching everyone their fun filled life of singing, dancing, and writing. The Jazz industry exploded, introducing performers and writers like Louis Armstrong, Langston Hughes, and Aaron Douglas to the world (History.com Staff). Women were searching for the more rights and they finally received the gift of a lifetime, the right to vote. In addition, inventions like the airplane were improving exponentially.
The Harlem Renaissance was a period in American history, which occurred in the 1920s in Harlem, New York. The cultural movement was an opportunity for African Americans to celebrate their heritage through intellectual and artistic works. Langston Hughes, a famous poet, was a product of the Harlem Renaissance. One notable piece of literature by Hughes is “Dream Deferred”. However, the discussion of African American culture isn’t limited to the 1920s.
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots” - Marcus Garvey. The Harlem Renaissance was a period of time in which racial pride and culture were thrust away in favor of a more traditional style of art. However, during this time, racial pride was best expressed through folk art via the means of relatable structure, understandable word choice and everyday subject matter. Common poets of the time chose not to imitate the formal and restrictive style of the European influenced “high art” and instead believed in a more down-to-earth, conversational style of writing. In these choices, poets began to shape a new form of art called “folk art” that gave readers content inspired by daily life
“The Explosion of Culture and Arts during the Harlem Renaissance.” TheCollector, 29 Sept. 2022,
The Harlem Renaissance left a great cultural impact on modern society by its literary works, music, and visual arts. The literary works during the Harlem Renaissance impacts people greatly
In life, there are few things as organic as jazz music. With its raw sound and scrappy roots, one cannot help but feel life head-on whilst witnessing players produce such a sound right before their eyes. Its origins and arch are a product of the United States’ national culture and identity. Jazz exists not only as a deeply rooted form of art but as a cultural marker, particularly during its commercial peak in the first half of the 20th century. Its impact transcends borders, and it is one of the most beloved musical genres worldwide.
King goes on to state, “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” This works because it gives these items something everyone can relate to or imagine. Like water, justice can be strong enough to change people. Justice is also natural and essential for people to thrive. And, finally, according to King, Justice is clear.
The Harlem Renaissance was a black literary and art movement that began in Harlem, New York. Migrants from the South came to Harlem with new ideas and a new type of music called Jazz. Harlem welcomed many African Americans who were talented. Writers in the Harlem Renaissance had separated themselves from the isolated white writers which made up the “lost generation” The formation of a new African American cultural identity is what made the Harlem Renaissance and the Lost Generation unique in American culture because it influenced white literacy and it was a sense of freedom for African Americans.
The representatives of Harlem Renaissance believed in democratic reforms, they thought that art and literature were means of changes and impact on white people. They believed in themselves and assisted to political organizations of that time – “National Association for the Advancement of Colored
The Harlem Renaissance was a movement that reflected the culture of African Americans in an artistic way during the 1920’s and the 30’s. Many African Americans who participated in this movement showed a different side of the “Negro Life,” and rejected the stereotypes that were forced on themselves. The Harlem Renaissance was full of artists, musicians, and writers who wrote about their thoughts, especially on discrimination towards blacks, such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Langston Hughes. The Harlem Renaissance was an influential and exciting movement, and influenced others to fight for what they want and believed in. The Harlem Renaissance was the start of the Civil Rights Movement.
“Although Dubus trains his disgust on the failures of the court, the practical shortcomings of using force as a response to injustice paradoxically emerge at the conclusion of an essay that ostensibly argues for the necessity of doing just that”
The justice theory states that justice is at the advantage of the stronger; however, there have been cases where even the strongest have been defeated. Take Ovid’s Apollo and Daphne for example, or from a biblical perspective, the Book of Judges, or even Elie Wiesel’s novel Night. These writings each