The Harlem Renaissance: A Cultural Experience
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement during the 1920’s in the neighborhood of Harlem, New York City. Many African Americans with artistic skills moved to Harlem from across the country during this time period. The renaissance movement created a cultural community in which song, dance, art, and religion were part of everyday activities. The art resembling the slave experiences of the African Americans was brought to Harlem and shown off. It is from these slave experiences that their culture has emerged. The art in the houses along with the sculptures and pottery is used to decorate the objects of daily life and not just used as gallery objects. Many famous African American writers and musicians came out of the Harlem Renaissance. Jelly Roll Morton, a musician, and Langston Hughes, a writer, are only two cultural products of the Harlem Renaissance.
In a review of essays by Alain Locke, he refers to Harlem as a spiritual awakening within the Afro-American community. He also points out how the people that made the move to Harlem not only made a change in location but also a change in personality and culture. The people that made the move to Harlem were tired of being oppressed and were ready for a change in lifestyle. The move to the new land signified a sense of individuality and aggressiveness. The new sense of individuality also forced the African American community to come together and form one solid group. The African American community was forced to cooperate because of the racism and segregation that was growing in the United States at the time (http://www.rit.edu/~nrcgsh/bx/bx09c.html).
The Harlem Renaissance is relevant to the East St. Louis project due to the fact that the culture established during this period continues to be part of East St. Louis' resident's everyday life. The music, art, and literature produced during the Harlem Renaissance still influences the lifestyle of many African Americans.
For more information on the Harlem Renaissance, visit
http://www.rit.edu/~nrcgsh/bx/bx09c.html
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Vernacular
Architecture | Harlem Renaissance |
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