The People, Leisure, and Culture of Blacks During the Harlem
It seems unfair that the pages of our history books or even the lecturers in majority of classrooms speak very little of the accomplishments of blacks. They speak very little of a period within black history in which many of the greatest musicians, writers, painters, and influential paragon'' emerged. This significant period in time was known as the Harlem Renaissance. Blacks attained the opportunity to work at "upper-class" jobs, own their own homes, and establish status among themselves. To no ones surprise, they still were not accepted into the so called "upper-class' of white society, but they neither worried nor became distressed over the fact. They created societies of their own which opened doors for blacks to attain opportunities that were absolutely unheard of, just before the Renaissance. It was from this same society where the beautiful melodies of jazz emerged. Colleagues and peers of their own race, which created a powerful bond between them, accepted Blacks. The attitudes which prompted the movement were those that came about because of the beginning of : (1) the nationalist tendencies of the time, (2) the movement of black Americans from slavery to freedom and from rural to city living, (3) Afro- Americans renewed p
The start of the 1920's may be seen as the end of the ragtime era and the opening of what came to be called the Jazz Age. The transition was inevitable as the passage from one generation to another. The ragtime years are known to have witnesses some of the more radical political developments in American life- socialists and antiwar agitations and the beginning of Black- nationalist ferment. The jazz age was known to be far more irreverent that the ragtime years. Besides making use of some of the affirmations that defined the ragtime era, and pondering on some of the emotional aftermath of the war, the jazz age was filled with new ideas of spontaneity and expression. It astounded the world with its uncanny variations of melody, decoration the word of poets and the feelings behind sculptures and paintings, seizing the new style of Harlem, and giving forth the expressions that have been repressed for too long. Harlem residents varied from Black southerners to Afro-Caribbean people who came, specifically, to escape poverty. When foreigners think of America, they vision endless opportunity and streets paved with gold. Well, to even the poorest Harlemite, Harlem symbolized a promise land. Those that migrated to Harlem sang praises of the new-foundland. When given the chance to visit their previous homes migrants arrived wearing the most stylish of garments, singing praises of a place where everyone from the police to their neighbor, in Harlem, shared both the same culture and color. A Black person never had to worry about racism and scrutiny. Harlem was like a hose and the door was shut to any unwanted or undeserved noise. This Harlem was the attraction of Black writers, artists, intellectuals, and other ambitious Black men and women. Harlemite's felt a belonging to a place that they felt belonged to them. It was within this environment that Blacks began to witness the wonders of its culture and race. It was a moment of pride and love among all Harlemites alike. In essence, Harlem symbolized freedom, a type of freedom that has been repressed for so long and a type of freedom that could never be taken away. During the 1920's novelists, poets, musicians and other artists came to Harlem and began to create their art from the expression of Black people. It was, at that time, when inspiration was in formation, this was Black Harlem. To many that came to Harlem, just like the world-renowned Claude McKay, Harlem was the first positive reaction that most Blacks saw to American Life. It was compared to a paradise filled with beautiful, strong joyous, Black people that were enjoying life. He worked several jobs in Harlem but he continuously ceased to observe the greatness of his people, in turn taking out the time to write poetry expressing all that he was witnessing every spare chance he got. Langston Hughes, one of the most extraordinary writers of all time, wrote as a young Negro artist, for himself and the other Negro artists, that this was their time to express the uniqueness of their individuality of their dark- skinned selves without feeling anything but pride and accomplishment. The feelings of fear and shame no longer existed. It did not matter, whether White or Black, who was pleased or displeased, he, as a young artist, was going to express himself anyway he chose along with many other young artists.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Busia Abena, Black Manhattan, Jazz Age, Harlemite Harlem, Gray Brenda, Harlem Renaissance, Renaissance Blacks, Finkelman Paul, Black American, Black White, black woman, slave woman, harlem renaissance, black women, negro woman, busia abena, renaissance period, stanlie busia abena, stanlie busia, woman slavery, white women, black woman slavery, zora neale hurston, james stanlie busia, busia abena 184,
Approximate Word count = 5020
Approximate Pages = 20 (250 words per page double spaced)
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