The Harlem Renaissance: The New Negro Movement

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Many people have heard of the Harlem Renaissance but do they really know the history and the impact it has on people today? You might not realize it but the Harlem Renaissance (originally called the New Negro Movement) was a time when talented blacks started to show their talent and impact America in a good way that still continues today. When people hear the word Renaissance they think of Italy and painting that portray strong emotion, but the word Renaissance means rebirth and that’s exactly what happened in the 1920’s in the small town of Harlem, New York. To understand why this renaissance started you need to know a little history. After the Civil War, the slaves in the south were now free after years of hard bondage. At least they thought …show more content…
Out of this pool of confidence came black leaders that excelled in literature, music, and civil rights. Probably one of the most famous leaders of the literature movement in Harlem was Langston Hughes. Many people know him because of his poems, but those poems of his had a deeper meaning to them. His poems like “I, Too” and “Let America Be America Again” show how blacks must keep going no matter what happens. His poems also told African Americans to keep hope alive and that they would one day “overcome” their troubles. Another prominent figure of literature during the Harlem Renaissance was James Weldon Johnson who was best remembered for his leadership in the NAACP. During the Harlem Renaissance he wrote poems and spirituals about the black culture. Some of his works include “The Creation”, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, and “The Book of American Negro …show more content…
The Civil Rights Movement was not only a movement to help blacks have a better life but also a movement to help people who were poor or did not have equal rights. A prominent figure and leader that came from this movement was Marcus Garvey, who strove to set up blacks in positions of power and have them do things for themselves rather than rely on other people to help them. Another leader was W.E.B. Dubois, who was a great writer and speaker and went on to establish the NAACP. This was an organization that fought for the rights of people who were treated unfairly because of their color. Even though these leaders were the most triumphant in their field, many people who were not as famous helped the movement in small ways that made a big difference. This includes the writers and the musicians that helped to uplift anyone going through poverty or any other hardship that makes life hard for
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