Harlem Renaissance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Harlem Renaissance - Essay Example It brought to the forefront the cultural specifics of the black community in all possible spheres. In literature, Harlem Renaissance enriched poetry, fiction, drama and essay. In arts, the traditional and popular songs, dance forms and paintings exhibit a vibrancy characteristic of the Harlem spirit of the times. And politically, the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) has brought the revolutionary ideas of W.E.B Du Bois and Marcus Garvey to good effect, which eventually led to appropriate representations and fortifications of the black community. 4. ‘Renaissance’ can literally means a rebirth or reawakening. The term is usually used to encompass a period that shows a renewed interest in art, literature or music. The Italian Renaissance of the 14th Century that focused mainly on painting led to a flowering of all forms of arts, literature and cultural artifacts in all Europe that lasted till the 16thy Century. In Harlem Renaissance, the interest in black tradition and art forms were evident. Moreover, it was a period when an abundance of artistic and literary products took birth and were circulated. 5. Harlem Renaissance works carried the general theme of a dual identity – of being an American and a black a colored individual at the same time. They explore the African-American identity with a lot of enthusiasm and optimism, since the racial prejudices were ameliorated at the time due to various reasons. The fact that there was scope for black arts at the specific environment gave the players of the movement great confidence and a sense of significance. The characteristic feature of the Renaissance is that it relied on the African heritage and tradition as much as it proclaimed the contemporary African-American existence and its accommodative, liberal spirit. New art forms like the Jazz did break away from traditions