The Harlem Renaissance was a defining point in history for the black identity. Not only did it rehabilitate a formerly suffering part of New York City, but it also was a time of great advances for the arts. To understand what life was like in Harlem, start with the famous musician Billie Holliday also known as "Lady Day". Her life before she was famous was difficult and gives an insight into what life may have been like for many African Americans living before and during the Harlem Renaissance. Billie Holiday's famous song, "Strange Fruit" is about two famous 1930s lynchings and proves how present racism was during this time. "I, Too, Sing America", a poem by Langston Hughes, also speaks to the racial inequality in America and African Americans desire for everyone to be equal. The abolition of slavery was not too long before the Harlem Renaissance and its effects were still being seen. Slavery was an undertone in Zora Neal Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God". One of the main characters, Nanny was a former slave and the effects of slavery are still evident in her values. The culture and the arts of the Harlem Renaissance were very prominent. Not only does Palmer Hayden's painting "Midsummer Night in Harlem" show the style of painting during the time, but it also shows the culture and fashion. The fashion of The Harlem Renaissance showed how popular the arts were and also showed the innovation of the people of Harlem.
The Harlem Renaissance
December 2013 Exam
Charles Maxfield