THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE 1919-1940

CHARACTERISTICS OF LITERATURE

• Blues music incorporating the past experences African Americans had been through.
• Focused on different aspects of black life in Harlem and other areas
• "Fight for your rights"-esque attitude
• Addressed issues of race, class, religion and gender
• Some writters attacked racism, or issues within black communities

WHAT INFLUENCED THE LITERATURE

• Huge migration north after WWI brought african americans to harlem.
• Opression of the African American race
• Music and poerty did not apply to them, they wanted their voice to be heard.
• Racial violence

FAMOUS AFRICAN AMERICAN AUTHORS OF THE ERA

• James Weldon Johnson
• Claude Mcay
• Langston Hughes

MORE AUTHORS

• Countee Cullen
• Wallace Thurman

FAMOUS WORKS OF THE ERA

• Let America Be America Again
• The Blacker The Berry
• Home to Harlem
• Passing
• Their Eyes Watching God