Literature and Poetry
As Harlem blossomed into a cultural destination for African Americans in the early 1900's, black writers began to thrive in the new, intellectually-charged atmosphere. By the 1920s, many works were receiving critical praise in mainstream literary circles and popular acclaim among both black and white audiences. Originally dubbed the New Negro Movement, this outpouring of literature came to be known as The Harlem Renaissance. The politics and ideals born from this era would not only serve as inspiration to African American artists for years to come, but would also help to lay the foundation of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's.
In addition to being published authors, many writers were poets, playwrights, journalists, and editors.
Though the literary themes that arose in this period are diverse and occasionally conflicting, they are generally concerned with promoting racial pride and embracing Pan-African sentiment. Many works addressed feelings of alienation and marginality experienced by minorities in American society, seeking to uplift those burdened by pervading racism and stereotyping. The result was a rich and complicated marriage of progressive ideals with traditional African American customs and folklore.
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