The Journey Of Courage: The Blossoming Of African American Culture

The Journey Of Courage

From the 1910s until the 1970s, more than six million African Americans moved from Southern America to northern, midwestern, and Western states. Making it the largest movement of people in United States history. The Harlem Renaissance was the blossoming of African American culture. This change in history was home to many social changes such as introducing a new wave of artists, music, fashion, etc. The Harlem Renaissance fell hand in hand with the Great Migration, the relocation of many African Americans. Black African Americans primarily moved from the rural south to areas like the larger cities in the North, Midwest, and West. Several reasons factored into the decision for them to pick up and leave their homes not knowing

It’s important to understand the push factors that led to one of the most essential impacts on the nation. During the movement, reasons for fleeing the South varied from family to family. In an informative documentary, ”The Great Migration”, designed to teach an audience about the Great Migration through an informative lens, the researchers stated, “In some cases, they were hoping to find jobs in steel mills, automobile factories, meat packing plants, or working for the railroad. Some were searching for better school and education opportunities, others were hoping to escape the racism and violence they faced in the south”. The main reason for such a large movement was to escape the harsh Jim Crow laws, life living under these laws was crucial and at times, inhumane. These laws made it legal to deny African Americans the right to vote, and opportunities for new jobs and education. People of the South were desperate to escape these harsh laws that were implemented, many left with no plan, they simply packed a bag and prayed for the best. Langston Hughes was one of the few influential people who personally experienced the conditions that ultimately led to the migration of 6 million African Americans, in his piece, he states, “I am fed up With Jim Crow laws, /People who are cruel /And afraid, /Who lynch and run, /Who are scared of me /Who are scared of me/ I

This rise in population left a significant impact on America. The biggest change that came from the Great Migration was all that unraveled after the Great Migration was truly the start of the Harlem Renaissance. It allowed African Americans to influence America and express themselves through their music, culture, art, etc. In the documentary, they explain how as the black population rose, they redefined black culture, they stated, “As the black population rose, many Northern cities became increasingly more integrated...These cities also became important centers for African American Culture. Newspapers, churches, businesses, and political organizations were all established by African Americans as part of a movement to redefine black culture” (History Brief: The Great Migration). The 1920s was a revolutionary period for African American artistic expression. Their living styles heavily influenced those living in the North and West hemispheres of America. The art piece “Epic Drama” by Jacob Lawrence, a glimpse of the style of African Americans. For instance, he paints them all in very vibrant colors, some even with beautiful elegant hangs and coats. This shows how African Americans had a unique, divine way of expressing themselves and this was an influence on those already living in these parts. Mass migration allowed