The Civil Rights Movement in America left a lasting impact on many of its citizens. For some, it meant the end of slavery and the recognition that all humans were equal. For others, it meant restricting liberties on African Americans and other colored individuals. It wasn’t long before an outpouring of literature, art, and music began flourishing amongst the populace, particularly in Harlem, New York. This period was known as the Harlem Renaissance.

The Harlem Renaissance began in a small neighborhood in New York called Harlem. Harlem consisted of a majority of African Americans who had started entering the middle class. Although it started off as a neighborhood for upper-class white families, Harlem became known as a starting point for black families to move up. With more affluent white populations moving out, it became a place where African American culture flourished.

The Harlem Renaissance officially began when three plays portrayed African American actors. A poet by the name of Claude McKay published a poem titled If We Must Die, which showed the struggles that African American culture must go through. With the advent of World War I, the United States went through a major cultural and social upheaval. As a result, the Renaissance spread and paved the way for other writers, such as Langston Hughes, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Zora Neale Hurston. 

During this time, many African American writers criticized Christianity and how much of an influence it had on their lives. Even though there were still racist attitudes within the religious system, this didn’t stop African Americans from pushing for churches to become more inclusive. Other religions blossomed during the time, some of which had roots in African ancestry, such as Voodoo. Music had also flourished during the Renaissance as well, with jazz musicians such as James P. Johnson and Ethel Waters taking center stage. Jazz had become so popular that it began attracting white people. 

An important aspect of the Harlem Renaissance was that it gave way to black empowerment. It gave a voice for the African American experience in America and changed much of the stereotypes that existed regarding African Americans. It provided a foundation for many people to experience black culture through literature, music, and the arts. It fostered a sense of diversity and saw the rise of what would become known as The Neo-New Negro Movement, which dedicated itself to challenge various forms of stereotypes. Du Bois became in charge of editing The Crisis, an NAACP magazine dedicated to black children. Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God was considered one of the classics of African American and women’s literature, telling a tale of a woman who had escaped from racism, domestic violence, and sexual norms. 

The Harlem Renaissance was a time when people got together to discuss the implications of social and political atmospheres, where intellectual ideas would be discussed and debated, and when the practice of writing really did begin to take root. Activist James Weldon Johnson even called it the “flowering of Negro literature.” The period demonstrated a beautiful combination between literature and art and showed how the pen truly can be mightier than the sword.