Harlem Renaissance :: essays research papers

When you think of Harlem the Harlem Renaissance, What is the first word that comes to mind? Harlem Renaissance was the great movement of the black race from the deep rural south to the urban Harlem city during the 1920s to 1930s. It was the time of the black Americans to show and reflect their talents throughout society. It was the time to prove something to the world. The time of emancipation, the time of dignity, the time of passion, the time of the art, the time of the music, etc. Do we really know why these people have migrated? What caused them to migrate? These are some of the questions that filled in my mind when I think of the Harlem Renaissance. Where did these great talented people came from? What motivated them into becoming and showing to the world that they are somebody? Looking back through the years and years of poverty, bad condition, unequal living, and having no right to be able to have their own voice in a white dominated society, these were just the bits of images that African Americans or should I say "blacks" because either way, even if you were black from Jamaica or from some other places, the white majority still considered you as "niggers". A race that is inferior and has no way into revolting against the domination of whites. There were a lot of regulations and restrictions that blacks faced during the time of slavery. Being considered a property is one of the hardship that they went through. They were basically treated like animals with no saying. They were sold here and there. There were also times that a person would get separated from their family. That person will never again see their family! The blacks were considered second class citizens. Although there were many obstacles that they encountered during their time period, they were able to escape that adversity. The main reason why people were able to escape that adversity was because they were willing to do anything, anything that would improve their life condition in the South. "The wash and rush of this human tide on the beach line of the northern city centers is to be explained primarily in terms of a new vision of opportunity, of social and economic freedom, of a spirit to seize, even in the face of an extortionate and heavy toll, a chance for the improvement of conditions.