Harlem Renaissance Research Paper

Soon after World War I, there was the birth of a new era called the Harlem Renaissance. This was a time period for African Americans to embrace their cultural backgrounds and their new found styles. The Harlem Renaissance had a huge impact on African American writers, artists, and activist leaders. During this time period writers, poets, musicians, and social leaders thrived in the Suburban area of New York City. The African American cultural movement came into the limelight as a result of the Harlem Renaissance. The cultural movement was not only influenced by racism and segregation, it was also influenced by the society’s insinuation that African-Americans were not capable of being individuals. A prime example would be Langston Hughes poem

Hughes was heavily influenced by jazz and blues music. Hughes poem rhythm had similar features to those of jazz music. Equally important, the influence of Paul Laurence Dunbar on Langston Hughes literary poetry. There was a place called Harlem in the area of New York City. Harlem became the center of the rising African American middle class, due to the growing opportunities. There was an expensive club called the Cotton Club, which resided in Harlem. In the beginning, the Cotton Club was predominantly owned by white patrons, with the occasional of a black performer. White club owners began to lose money, which was the result of not allowing African Americans into the club. Elizabeth Olds proclaims that “White patrons failed to realize that a large part of the Harlem attraction for downtown New Yorkers lay in simply watching the colored customers amuse themselves” (Olds). The Cotton Club was a place where African- American Performers talents were heard. There was no limitation or judgment once you entered the Cotton Club, but white still had power over the administrative side. African Americans could perform, serve white patrons, but couldn’t sit alongside them. Some of Hughes poems had tempos of jazz music. Rebecca Cobby states that “A mixture of jazz, blues, and traditional verse that celebrated African American experience and creativity” (Cobby). His poem also had the modernistic attribute such as free verse. Hughes uses repetition as a technique in his poem to emphasize his point. Hughes poem is like no other poem, he connects his personal beliefs with historical facts. During that time period, African Americans were trying to find ways to not only make a living but to show their freedom of speech. African Americans were proud of their heritage and wanted to embrace who they were. African Americans receiving their freedom cast the spotlight on free form,