The Harlem Renaissance was one of the most important events in black American history. The Harlem Renaissance started in 1918 and came to an end in 1937. It started when hundreds of thousands of black Americans moved from the South to Harlem. They moved to Harlem by the thousands in search of a better life, as well as economic and educational opportunities. The voice of oppression is a precise description of the Harlem Renaissance. This is shown in many ways through the works of people of the time such as E. Franklin Frazier, Claude McKay, Billie Holiday, and Augusta Savage. Many short stories from the time show the voice of oppression. “All God’s Chillun Got Eyes” by E. Franklin Frazier highlights this oppression very well. Many black Americans at the time had to …show more content…
“Blood on the leaves and blood at the root” (Holiday). The way Billie sang helped many people feel her words and truly understand them. The intended audience was anyone who did not know what was happening in the South and anyone who wanted to make a change to what was happening. The music was important because it brought out the singer's voice and almost forced the listeners to focus on the lyrics. The song tells you that life was brutal and that black people were treated horribly and morbidly. Short stories, poetry, and music are all great ways to portray the voice of oppression, but you can not physically see the purpose. With art, the voice of oppression can be seen and fully understood. Aspiration by Aaron Douglas beautifully shows the voice of oppression in the form of art. Aaron Douglas created this piece to show both the struggles and the goals of black Americans during the Harlem Renaissance. The use of the mountain and dark color scheme may symbolize hardships while the star may symbolize new goals and aspirations for people in the north (Douglas). The book and globe that the people are holding may symbolize education