2. Definition
• “Blossoming” of African American culture,
especially the creative arts
• Most influential movement in African American
literary history
• Sought to identify “the Negro” apart from white
stereotypes that had influenced black people’s
relationship to their heritage and each other (e.g.
Minstrel shows & possibly Huck Finn)
• Laid the groundwork for all subsequent African
American literature (“Harlem Renaissance”)
3. Background
• Precipitated by northward movement of
blacks into urban spaces
• Aided by higher rates of literacy, creation of
national organizations, new socioeconomic
opportunity, growing race pride
• Ushered in the Civil Rights movement in the
1940s and 1950s (“Harlem Renaissance”)
4. Harlem
• The city of Harlem was the symbolic capitol of
the movement
• Included influences from many sources:
primarily in the US and the Carribbean
• Harlem made “New Negroes” visible and
provided publishing opportunities
• The city was a catalyst for creative expression
& drew blacks from all over the US (“Harlem
Renaissance”)