The Harlem Renaissance: A Research Paper

The Harlem Renaissance remains one of the most significant artistic movements in American history, far surpassing its original importance to one specific minority. The renaissance served to create a consciousness of identity for African-Americans, while also forcing white American to confront the importance of an ethnic group too long considered inferior. The Harlem Renaissance is best remembered today as an explosion of creativity bursting from the talented minds of African-Americans in the 1920s, although in reality it was the locus for the radicalization and politicization of a disenfranchised populace as much as it was an artistic movement. Although generally considered an African-American literary movement, the Harlem Renaissance extended far beyond books and poetry to embrace art, dance, and music. The creative minds behind the Harlem Renaissance used artistic expression to make a significant impact on all aspects of society, while also endowing African-American with their first sense of identity not defined by slavery.