African American Writers During The Harlem Renaissance

Who is Maya Angelou? Maya Angelou was primarily a very versatile and talented person. This woman of African American origin wrote and published seven autobiographies that were very popular and highly-evaluated in the US. However, she is well-known not only for being an author but also for being an actress, poet, dancer, and screenwriter. And of course we must not forget activism in the field of civil rights conducted by Maya.

Despite Phillis Wheatley being an African American former slave in the 1760's, Phillis managed to overcome unimaginable obstacles that and become a successful poet. Around the age of seven Phillis Wheatley was kidnapped and was sold into slavery to the Wheatley's. Unlike many white slave owners the Wheatleys cared deeply for Phillis, so they decided to teach her how to read and write, which was illegal during this time. Phillis Wheatley played a very vital role in American history, despite being sold into slavery Phillis manage to overcome all obstacles and break down barriers to become the well known astounding poet she is today. One of Wheatley’s poems that received the most attention is the one she wrote for George Washington, 'To the King's Most Excellency Majesty'.

The Harlem Renaissance was a time of free expression, of trying to forget the goings on of the Great Depression and to also try to move on after WWI. The cultural and artistic explosion is something that is remembered many years later as a fruitful time for African-American music, art, and poetry. Quite a bit of it is based off of the racial discrimination that was aimed towards blacks, and a way of revolting without actually revolting was to express oneself as much as possible. The poetry, music, and art that came forth from the Harlem Renaissance is revered, and had very much impact on today's cultural and social habits. The Harlem Renaissance, also known as the New Negro Movement, was a time to express yourself and, through different

“Langston Hughes” points out important characteristics of Langston Hughes that I find inspiring. Because Hughes kept climbing and never gave up like his mother advised him, he accomplished very big things that a lot of people do not get to experience. Some of the great things he accomplished were winning an Opportunity poetry prize, using grant money to establish African American theatrical groups, and making

That made the label decide to establish the ‘race-records’ series with Bessie the star of them. The series first issued Bessie’s ‘Cemetery Blues’. She made a total of 159 titles which were issued by Columbia Records. The third and final volume was released on 1931. (Whitehead,

During the 1920s something extraordinary accord, an artistic movement that flourished the African American society and that would impact the world we live in today. Some know this movement to be called The New Negro Movement others The New Negro Movement. We often hear about the men like Alain Locke or Langston Hughes that had a major role in the movement, but what about the women? I will explore legendary women like Maya Angelou, Naomi Sims, Aida Overton Walker, Angelina Grimke, and Zora Neale Hurston. These women had contributed to The Harlem Renaissance, but are not often recognized for them.

This research question is significant because many African American women were involved in the Civil Rights Movements but their actions are always underestimated and their input is usually not recognized. These women were very significant during this time and had been very successful in starting their civil rights organizations projects as well as jumping in and serving as lawyers on school campuses. This is worthy of study because the Civil Rights Movements was a chain reaction that changed the world, and the fact women were getting involved and trying to make a difference was a great deal back then. As well as, the fact that these African American women were seen as minorities, yet they did in fact , alter the outcome for their social progress in the movements. They took matters into their own hands because they saw how badly they were being treated and how they also were being perceived as worthless people.

The New Negro Renaissance, more formally known as the Harlem Renaissance, earning it’s name from the 1925 anthology by Alain Locke, had many effects on many people, but it can be best described as a revolution, a cultural uprising where the high level of Black poetry, production and art demanded, and, in turn, received the mainstream appreciation and accolade which it rightly deserved. It is described as the most important and so discussed period in African American literacy, and indeed twentieth century literacy as a whole. Black poets felt segregating in their writing, and forced into the inforced, repressive form of the western white poets of the time. With their writing founded upon tribal, native songs full of pride and passion, the migration to a set form imposed upon them left a stale taste, a further example of how black people were repressed, not allowed to

If successful getting them off the street the paper work need to assist them is even more challenging. It’s up to the client to go to their appointments and bring back the documents to help house them. Many of the population we serve are severely mentally ill dealing with family loss, loss of homes and sexual

Langston Hughes was one the most well known names during the Harlem Renaissance. He was a writer whose pieces ranged from novels, to plays. He wrote short stories, children’s books, translations and anthologies as well. However, his most well known pieces were his poems. Langston's writing reflected the idea that black culture should be celebrated, because it is just as valuable as white culture.

Over the past decades, from the 1800s until now, there have been so many influential African Americans in the world. African American who may have been the first black officer, doctor, nurse, or who may even have been the first black person to open up a school. These people have done wonders not only for their city but for the entire black community. Their actions have made young children inspired to do more with their lives. Because of these people, who fought for what’s right, children like me can be more than what we were told we could be.

One of the most important literary figure was Langston Hughes. When the “Harlem Renaissance” became popular, Langston Hughes’ influences, style of writing, and themes made him different than the others. Langston Hughes was influenced by people and events. The people that influenced him were Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Carl Sandburg, and Walt Whitman.

Jean Toomer was an important American Poet during the Harlem Renaissance. One of his most famous work was Cane, which he wrote after his experience in the south as a school principal. Cane consisted of a collection of poems and stories, and it played an important role during the Harlem Renaissance. Toomer wrote about the African American slaves and the circumstances they faced during harvest. Harvest Song, which appears in chapter 27 of the book Cane, and it is a poem written in first person in which the narrator is a reaper who works in the field.

Zora Neale Hurston was an African American writer acknowledged for her short stories, being a folklorist, and an anthropologist. Hurston was born in Notasulga, Alabama, on January 7, 1891. She was daughter to two former slaves. “At the age of three her family moved to Eatonville, Florida.” (manythings.org).

The themes explored in the packet reflect Harlem Renaissance culture in many aspects especially in terms of equality, culture, and sophistication. As a part of the Harlem Renaissance culture, it was noted that in the late 1800s and early 1900s, many southern blacks fled to escape persecution and to find opportunities in northern industrial centers. Blacks wanted to come to the North with hopes that they would find improved working and living conditions compared to the opportunities available in the post war Southern region. As stated in the packet, Harlem came to symbolize a new age of sophistication and urbanity for the blacks in America. Sophistication in the fact that blacks would not have to worry about fighting back against terror, violence