Writers of Harlem
The Harlem renaissance is famous for its explosion of Black literature and the language arts in African American culture, based in Harlem. From the anthologies of Alain Locke to the poems of countee Cullen to the novels of Zora Neale Hurston, the writings of the Harlem Renaissance had a lasting impact on Black movements and were revolutionary in the literary world.
Alain Locke
Alain Locke is regarded none other than the father of the popular Harlem Renaissance itself. Born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 1885, Locke graduated from Harvard university in 1907 and became the first African-American Rhodes Scholar. Thanks to his best know work The New Negro (1925), an anthology to which he also contributed to. The New Negro was a collection of essays, poetry and other literature that described changing race relations in the United States. The work was incredibly influential because it drew great attention to emerging Black writing and culture, it helped establish the Harlem renaissance as a lasting movement. This reflects Locke's belief in cultural pluralism, his belief that America should be a society of many cultural influences, contrasting the beliefs of Zora Neale Hurston, who believed in Black independence from white American society. Nevertheless, Alain Locke greatly influence Hurston.
Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston, born in 1891 in Eatonville, Florida, in a small town that influenced her later philosophy. Hurston was a prolific writer, anthropologist, and figure in the Harlem renaissance. Hurston first garnered interest in her publications for Black literary journals, such as her short story "Spunk" which was published for The New Negro in 1925. Hurston was also an anthropologist, her notable works in anthropology include entering communities in the Carribean and South America, as well as the American South. Hurston is best known for her novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God" (1937) which touched on the issues of race, gender, and wealth in African-American society. Regarded as a classic and an American masterpiece, Hurston's novel is a prime example of literary advances in the Harlem Renaissance, written anout such topics as wouldhave been impossible before the movement.
Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes, born in 1902, was a noteworthy writer, poet, and activist during the Harlem renaissance. Hughes was enormously influential over the Harlem renaissance, being in his prime during its height. Hughes was know for being unashamedly Black, taking pride in his race and drawing attention to raise Black culture to notice as a major aspect of American history and society. Hughes is know for portraying Blacks of the working class in his writing, as well as filling his work with joyful and uplifting themes. In one of his most famous poems The Negro Speaks of Rivers(1920) Hughes uplifts the theme of Black racial identity and the connection to Africa. Hughes was a major proponent of racail pride in the Harlem Renaissance.
Other Writers
Countee Cullen, born 1903 was a noteable African-American poet. While he believed poetry was raceless, nevertheless his work did though on racial pride and uplifting his fellow African-Americans.
Claude McKay was a Jamaican -American writer born in 1889. He wrote many noteworthy works, such as Home to Harlem (1928) which won prestigious awards and spread the culture of Harlem throughout much of america.
Claude McKay was a Jamaican -American writer born in 1889. He wrote many noteworthy works, such as Home to Harlem (1928) which won prestigious awards and spread the culture of Harlem throughout much of america.