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How Did The Harlem Renaissance Influence American Culture

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The Harlem Renaissance was a movement that made a cultural and artistic impact on American history in the early 20th century. Even today, the Harlem Renaissance continues to shape American culture. However, the beginning of this movement can be traced back much further to the earliest African presence in the United States, along with the fusion and adaptation of African cultural traditions in America. By examining various texts and videos from scholars, this essay will demonstrate how African cultural traditions contributed to creating a distinctly American cultural movement that resonates in American society today. It will explore the relationship between African culture and the Harlem Renaissance, that the early African presence in the United …show more content…

This movement marked the wave of a new creative expression in literature, music, art, and theater. Back then the work of a colored person was seen as inferior compared to a white person’s work, but the Harlem Reneisance started to change that. In The Portable Harlem Renaissance Reader, David Levering Lewis says “Just as soon as true art emerges; just as soon as the black artist appears, someone touches the race on the shoulder and says, ‘He did that because he was an American, not because he was a Negro; he was born here; he was trained here; he is not a Negro—What is a Negro anyhow? He is just human; it is the kind of thing you ought to expect.” The Harlem Renaissance was a period of renewed pride and identity among black Americans, it marked a moment of achievement in African American cultural and intellectual history. It represented a rejection of the racial oppression and discrimination that had defined their experiences for generations. A profound exploration of themes such as black pride, identity, resistance, and the use of African cultural traditions as a source of inspiration and artistic expression marked their …show more content…

The movement challenged the stereotypes and attitudes toward African Americans and inspired a new generation of artists and intellectuals. The legacy of the Harlem Renaissance can be seen in the ongoing struggle for civil rights and equality in current American society. African American culture has continued to evolve, and its expressions are now more diverse than ever before. The Harlem Renaissance serves as a reminder of the resilience and creativity of the African American community in the face of oppression and adversity. Therefore, the legacy of the Harlem Renaissance and African cultural traditions will continue to be significant in American society and

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