The Harlem Renaissance was a period of time in history where African Americans revived their cultural and intellectual self. Key ways African Americans achieved this was through self determination, destroying outdated racial stereotypes, being racially conscious, group expression, modern ideas, and through political and civil rights. In literature there has been a major debate about books marked as Harlem Renaissance reads and whether or not the book meets the criteria of the Harlem Renaissance. One book in particular that has been criticized for not meeting the Harlem Renaissance Ideals is “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston. After reading this book, I determined that it should still be considered a Harlem Renaissance book. …show more content…
“whut’s yo’ baby doin’ wid gray eyes and yaller hair?’ She begin tuh slap mah jaws ever which a’way. Ah never felt the fust ones’cause Ah wuz too busy gittin’ de kivver back over mah chile. But dem last lick burnt me a lak fire. Ah had too many feelin’s tuh tell which one tuh follow, so Ah didn’t cry and Ah didn’t do nothin’ else.” pg 17. This quote shows what a lot of slaves who were women had to deal with because they had no option to leave; they were only seen as property to white men and when they got pregnant they were seen as whores to the white women. A lot of authors criticize this book for being considered a Harlem Renaissance because the book puts much of the attention on the main character Jaine and less on the actual Harlem Renaissance movement. And when first reading this book it does seem like the book is more focused on Janie's life as a woman during this time period, but when paying close attention one can see how the author does in fact add a bunch of Harlem Renaissance ideals and shows them in different ways through different characters and their own experiences besides the main