Claude Mckay s Harlem Dancer And Ended Around 1929 Essay

The Harlem Renaissance began in 1918 with the publication of Claude McKay’s â€Å"Harlem Dancer† and ended around 1929. During this period, there was a wave of literary works by, and about, Blacks. The Harlem Renaissance was a period of great intellectual expression as well as introspection (Bodenner). There were several key moments and individuals that made this era of time historical. African American artists rejected imitating the ideals of white Americans and championed black artistic expression on their own terms. They explored their own identities and culture as well as exposing the larger public to their ideals. One of the main goals of the black writers and intellectuals of the Harlem Renaissance was to show blacks as capable individuals. Providing a positive self-image for blacks was not an easy task. The Harlem Renaissance succeeded in depicting blacks as individuals who could make great achievements, if given the opportunity (Bloom). However, continued injust ices forced black intellectuals into the harsh realization that the mentality of prejudice was still deeply rooted in American society. Looking at the important figures of this period we must start with such names as Countee Cullen, W.E.B. DuBois, Langston Hughes, and Alain Locke to name a few. These intellectuals were the backbone to era and were instrumental in placing this period in a position of prominence. There were far more individuals who contributed to the relevance of the Harlem Renaissance, both blackShow MoreRelatedBrief Summary of the Harlem Renaissance.1863 Words   |  8 PagesHarlem Renaissance Variously known as the New Negro movement, the New Negro Renaissance, and the Negro Renaissance, the movement emerged toward the end of World War I in 1918, blossomed in the mid- to late 1920s, and then faded in the mid-1930s. The Harlem Renaissance marked the first time that mainstream publishers and critics took African American literature seriously and that African American literature and arts attracted significant attention from the nation at large. Although it was primarily