Nathan Irvin Huggins: Culture And Identity Crisis In The Harlem Renaissance
analytical Essay
1665 words
During and after World War One , the Great Migration caused many African Americans to move from rural areas of the country to the northern states. Many people flocked to Harlem, New York in hopes that they too would become a part of the culture phenomenon taking place. This culture boom became known as The Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance was an influential movement that “kindled a new black culture identity “(History.com). With the turning of the age it seemed the perfect opportunity for Afro- Americans to create a new identity. In Harlem Renaissance by Nathan Irvin Huggins, the author doesn’t answer just one general question, but instead questions the culture and identity crisis that enveloped this movement. He successfully brings …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Describes how the great migration caused many african americans to move from rural areas of the country to the northern states. the harlem renaissance was an influential movement that "kindled a new black culture identity."
- Analyzes how nathan irvin huggins questions the culture and identity crisis that enveloped the harlem renaissance and how it impacted white and african american culture.
- Analyzes how huggins maintains a formal writing style throughout the book. he brings in historical context to help the reader understand the actual time period through poetry and photographs.
- Opines that huggins' work relates to many ideas and books including new negro by alain locke, a famous anthology analyzing the changing of african american identity.
- Analyzes how huggins' argument is edgy and new because he chooses to see the success of the harlem renaissance differently.
- Analyzes how huggins' argument is brought to life through his use of historical evidence found in influential poetry from the time period.
- Explains that ralph ellison's struggle with identity and intellectual issues was addressed in his invisible man.
- Analyzes how ellison's invisible man is the result of white americans refusing to see past the black stereotype. because of his invisibility, he has been living underground, hiding from harsh criticism.
- Analyzes how ellison uses rhetorical strategies to illustrate his main argument about racial blindness from the time period.
- Analyzes how ellison uses irony when he mentions the liberty paint plant in chapter 10. this paint company is known for their "purest" of whites, almost glowing in its brilliance.
In fact, it is clear to the reader that Huggins makes a concerted effort to bring light to both ethnicities’ perspectives. Huggins even argues that their culture is one and the same, “such a seamless web that it is impossible to calibrate the Negro within it or to ravel him from it” (Huggins, 309). Huggins argument is really brought to life through his use of historical evidence found in influential poetry from the time period. When analyzing why African Americans were having an identity crisis he looked to a common place that African American looked to. Africa was a common identifier among the black community for obvious reasons and was where Authors and Artists looked for inspiration. African American artists adopted the simple black silhouette and angular art found in original African pieces. Authors looked to Africa in their poetry. In The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes, the names of rivers in Africa such as the Euphrates, the Congo and the Nile were all used and then the scene switches to the Mississippi river found in America showing that blacks have “seen”, or experienced both. Huggins looks deeply into Countee Cullen’s Heritage discussing “what is Africa to me?” a common identifier that united black artistry in the Harlem Renaissance, “Africa? A book one thumbs listlessly, till slumber comes” (Countee). The black community craved to be a separate society from white Americans so they were forced to go back to the past to find their heritage, before America and white oppression. Huggins finds an amazing variety of evidence within literature of this time period, exposing the raw feelings and emotion behind this intellectual movement. The connections he makes within these pieces of poetry are accurate and strong, supporting his initial thesis
Related
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- The Harlem Renaissanceanalytical essayOccurring in the 1920’s and into the 1930’s, the Harlem Renaissance was an important movement for African-Americans all across America. This movement allowed the black culture to be heard and accepted by white citizens. The movement was expressed through art, music, and literature. These things were also the most known, and remembered things of the renaissance. Also this movement, because of some very strong, moving and inspiring people changed political views for African-Americans. Compared to before, The Harlem Renaissance had major effects on America during and after its time.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that patrons were needed for the harlem renaissance to grow. they included carl van vechten and charlotte osgood mason, who offered assistance and made things more available to the black community.
- Analyzes how the harlem renaissance started to fade away after the great depression, especially for the blacks.
- Explains that the harlem renaissance was an important movement for african-americans all across america. it allowed the black culture to be heard and accepted by white citizens.
- Explains that the harlem renaissance had a strong and moving impact internationally. the racial segregation and discrimination ended, and the music and arts of today are inspired by the ideas of the renaissance.
- Describes dickstein, morris. "carl van vechten and the harlem renaissance." times literay supplement, n.d.
1572 wordsRead More - The Harlem Renaissance: Creation of a New Nationanalytical essayThe Harlem Renaissance created a new racial identity for African-Americans living in the United States, after the First World War. This new racial identity caused the African-Americans to become a nation within the United States. A nation is defined as a group of people that share common language, ethnicity, history, and culture. A nation of people may or may not have sovereignty. Harlem, a neighbourhood in Manhattan, New York City, emerged as the “race capital”1 for African-Americans living in the Northern states. Many African-Americans migrated from the Southern states to the North because of an influx of available jobs after World War I. Influential writer James Weldon Johnson described Harlem as “being taken without violence.”2 The borough was flooded with Southern African-Americans looking for work. They were apt to work in the factories, and would rather that, than work in the Mississippi Valley on cotton farms.3 As the economy began to prosper a distinct African-American middle class began to emerge. This was mainly due to an increase in jobs and education. The increase in education and the emergence of a middle-class began to bring intellectuals to the forefront of the African-American nation. Influential African-American writers, artists, and politicians began to emerge in their respective communities. Harlem became the hub of a social revolution. The African-American culture began to spread. Art, novels, and poems became centers of the African-American community. The white Americans began to notice and acknowledge, these impressive works of art. Jazz music, or the blues, became a worldwide-recognized American music style. The Harlem Renaissance also led to a large change in many political disputes led by leaders such a ...
In this essay, the author
- Describes how the harlem renaissance created a new racial identity for african-americans living in the united states, after the first world war.
- Compares the history and ethnicity of african-americans living in the united states with those of native americans.
- Analyzes how the harlem renaissance exposed african-americans to the accent and way of speaking in the pidgin language.
- Explains that jazz music, also known as the blues, was a symbol for african-american life in the united states.
- Analyzes the influence of the harlem renaissance on african-american culture. langston hughes' fine clothes to the jew and countee cullen's heritage are both extraordinary pieces of poetry.
- Opines that the political and intellectual section of the harlem renaissance is important in establishing a new racial identity.
- Analyzes how the harlem renaissance created a new racial identity for african-americans, and argues that the art, poetry and music brought them together.
- Cites ferguson, section 1, document 11, alain locke, the survey graphic, harlem issue, p.
- Describes ferguson, section 3, document 30, wallace thurman. fire, p.
- Explains that ferguson, section 2, document 17, richard bruce nugent. sahdji, p. 103.
- Explains that ferguson, section 1, document 2, phillip randolph and chandler owen. the new negro- what is he? pp. 39-4220.
1528 wordsRead More - The Harlem Renaissanceexplanatory essayThe Harlem Renaissance The Harlem Renaissance was a period of cultural explosion. It began in the wake of World War One, flourished until the Great Depression, peaking in Nineteen twenty-eight a year before the beginning of the Depression. The community of Harlem was composed of mainly Negroes (not all of the black population of Harlem was of African descent, so the term African-American would be falsely used in this case) and during this time period they were still considered inferior to the whites. For this reason and other events that took place during the Harlem Renaissance, which I will discuss later in this paper, I have chosen the Athens question, "What does it mean to be a member of a community?"
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the harlem renaissance was a period of cultural explosion that began in the wake of world war one and flourished until the great depression.
- Explains that the harlem renaissance was a time period during which the black culture of new york, primarily, attempted to raise pride amongst themselves and attain equality with those that oppressed them.
- Explains that the harlem renaissance started as a literary and intellectual movement with both race propaganda and "pure" art. they represented the outsiders who wanted to be part of the main stream.
- Describes harlem's 'roaring twenties', where people were happy, but the community they made up was a tight knit and caring one.
- Explains that the harlem renaissance was a way of trying to get into the mainstream community. they were voicing their opinion through art, poetry, music, painting, and dance.
- Explains that harlem was a predominately black area, while downtown was the southern end of manhattan, the area known as new york city.
- Opines that white businessmen still occupy the same role, below the whites, after the evenings of fun and laughter. these shows and performers had become cultural icons.
- Explains that many of the important players in the harlem renaissance dealt with issues other than race.
- Opines that the renaissance heroes showed that they have talents, are human, and will not be denied. they maintained a strong black community.
644 wordsRead More - Harlem Renaissance and Jessie Redmon Fausetanalytical essayThe Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement of blacks that helped changed their identity. Creative expression flourished because it was the only chance blacks had to express themselves in any way and be taken seriously. World War I and the need for workers up North were a few pull factors for the migration and eventually the Renaissance. A push was the growing discrimination and danger blacks were being faced with in the southern cities. When blacks migrated they saw the opportunity to express themselves in ways they hadn’t been able to do down south. While the Harlem Renaissance taught blacks about their heritage and whites the heritage of others, there were also negative effects. The blacks up North were having the time of their lives, being mostly free from discrimination and racism but down South the KKK was at its peak and blacks that didn’t have the opportunities to migrate experienced fatal hatred and discrimination.
In this essay, the author
- Describes jessie fauset as the "midwife of the harlem renaissance" by poet langston hughes. she graduated from philadelphia high school for girls in 1900 and became an essayist and novelist.
- Analyzes how fauset's father influenced her to do the best in everything she did. she was denied a teaching job because of her race and sex, but it pushed her harder, resulting in her moving to baltimore.
- Opines that jessie redmon fauset was one of the many great artists during the harlem renaissance that inspired many with her strong words of wisdom and truth.
- Describes the harlem renaissance as a cultural movement during the early twentieth century. it was started by the great migration of blacks to the north during world war i.
728 wordsRead More - In the introduction to The Portable Harlem Renaissance Reader, David Levering Lewis states the Harlem Renaissance was not a cohesive movement, but a constructed and forced phenomenon that was “institutionally encouraged and directed by leaders of the national civil rights establishment for the paramount purpose of improving race relations.” (Lewis, xiii) However, after researching many influential artists, politicians, and orators of the time, I must disagree. While, yes, the movement of an entire cultural and racial awakening can only be seen as a phenomenon and the movement itself was by no means cohesive, these powerful men and women needed no institutionalized encouragement. Each of their works were their own with diverse ideas and methods, yet somehow, came together to form an interconnected goal within the movement.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that the harlem renaissance was a constructed and forced phenomenon that was institutionalized and directed by leaders of the national civil rights establishment for the paramount purpose of improving race relations.
- Analyzes how lewis's viewpoint is not without its truths. the harlem renaissance was overseen by several intellectuals such as booker t. washington, marcus garvey, and w.e.b. dubois.
- Describes lewis' questions about the negroes' humanity.
- Analyzes how dubois promoted the talented tenth, which included a style of writing that emulated famous white poets.
- Analyzes how zora neale hurston embodies hughes' idea of a brazen author. her stories are spirited women, burly men, and southern ideals that walk through all paths of folklore and african-american life in the south.
- Explains that the harlem renaissance is a phenomenon due to its ability to unite so many people with such inimitable ideas to one common aim.
- Analyzes how langston hughes encouraged positive self-consciousness and african-american pride through his written works and articulations.
- Explains gates j.r., henry louis & west, cornel. the african-american century. new york: the free press 2000. kellner, bruce.
1482 wordsRead More - The Harlem Renaissanceexplanatory essayThe Harlem Renaissance The Harlem Renaissance refers to a prolific period of unique works of African-American expression from about the end of World War I to the beginning of the Great Depression. Although it is most commonly associated with the literary works produced during those years, the Harlem Renaissance was much more than a literary movement; similarly, it was not simply a reaction against and criticism of racism. The Harlem Renaissance inspired, cultivated, and, most importantly, legitimated the very idea of an African-American cultural consciousness. Concerned with a wide range of issues and possessing different interpretations and solutions of these issues affecting the Black population, the writers, artists, performers and musicians of the Harlem Renaissance had one important commonality: "they dealt with Black life from a Black perspective."
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the harlem renaissance was a prolific period of african-american expression from the end of world war i to the beginning of the great depression.
- Explains that blacks began to migrate from the southern united states to the north beginning in 1919 and lasting through about 1926. the reasons for this mass movement are complicated and numerous.
- Explains how the new negro movement fueled social activity in a spirit of 'progressivism' that believed in art and literature as agents of social change.
- Explains that there was not a single sociopolitical vision that dominated the works of the renaissance.
- Explains that the renaissance could not overcome the overwhelming white presence in commerce which defined art and culture. harlem intellectuals became "dicty niggers."
- Argues that the great depression provided a deep, abrupt interruption into renaissance activities as it did to all other aspects of social life.
- Explains that the harlem renaissance left a lasting legacy of cultural consciousness that informed all americans of black culture and life.
- Explains that migration has long been and continues to be an important part of black history. between 1919 and the 1960's over 6 million blacks have left the south for northern cities.
- Explains the reason the renaissance was able to occur was the general spirit of "self-determination" and social experimentation that gained popularity and acceptance following world war i.
- Explains that for the american negro, this meant a struggling identity crisis, being an american but not in whole because of the cruel and unfair treatment of black people.
- Explains that the u.s. government's works progress administration cultural program fueled an abundance of african american literary works, performance art, and visual expression well into the early 1940s.
1171 wordsRead More - The Harlem Renaissance Movement: The New Negro Movementanalytical essayThe New Negro Movement named after the great African American writer, Alain Locke, later known, as the Harlem Renaissance was a time for the African American culture and art to grow. With that growth also came population growth. Artists from the South migrated during the Great migration to the north and Midwest Industrial cities. The Great Migration relocated 6 million African Americans from 1916-1970 and this led to a huge urban impact in the United States. One of the most impacted cities during this time was Harlem, New York City. Harlem was a formally all white neighborhood but by the 1920s housed 200,000 African Americans, which by this time made up 66 percent of New York City’s population. The Harlem Renaissance was a major contributor to the Great Migration. The Harlem Renaissance led the groundwork for a cultural change in the United States’ major Industrial Cities and many of these artists of the time were calling for political and social change. This attracted many African Americans from the South because this was the time of the Jim Crow Laws and the rebirth of the KKK.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the new negro movement, named after the great african american writer, alain locke, led to a huge urban impact in the united states.
- Explains that 1928 was the height of the harlem renaissance movement, which included race and image building, jazz poetics, progressive or socialist politics, racial integration, musical and sexual freedom, and hedonism.
- Explains that creating this race building required effective strategy within art and literature. the harlem renaissance writer was to write a piece of literature that would surpass itself.
- Analyzes how the most famous harlem renaissance leaders were torn between the ideas of black and white. toomer considered himself white for much of his career and would not acknowledge his african american roots until later in his life.
- Explains that economic and sociological forces during the twentieth century would also play a pivotal role with the movement. the harlem renaissance was shaped by urbanization, emigration, and employment trends from the 1910s.
- Explains that the urban corridor between fifth and seventh avenue was known as the "black belt". the lynching of blacks, boil-weevil infestation, and a depressed job market made the south an undesirable place to live.
- Explains that w.e.b. dubois was a forefather of the harlem renaissance. he wrote the souls of black folk, which described the plight of black people in america.
1156 wordsRead More - History Of The Harlem Renaissanceexplanatory essayThe Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement that began in the 1920s, brought an excitement and a new found freedom and voice to African-Americans who had been silent and oppressed for a long time. This blossoming of African-American culture in European-American society, particularly in the worlds of art and music, became known as The Harlem Renaissance.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the harlem renaissance brought an excitement and a new found freedom and voice to african-americans who had been silent and oppressed for long.
- Explains that after the american civil war ended in 1865, more jobs and education became available for blacks. in 1896, equal rights for all races came to a halt.
- Explains that the harlem globetrotters originated in chicago and played an exhibition game before the crowds at the savoy ballroom.
- Analyzes how the great depression brought about the end of the harlem renaissance in america. black americans turned their creativity from arts to speaking out for social and financial equality.
- Explains that the harlem renaissance gave a powerful voice that echoed down many avenues, making changes in american culture that continue to speak loudly today.
- Explains that william edward burroughs du bois, a harvard graduate, was one of the fighters of civil rights movement during the harlem renaissance.
- Explains that musical magic would change the world and break color barriers across the united states. it would be found in the heart of harlem but, interestingly, the audiences were not black, but white.
- Explains that the cotton club opened the door for many performers in harlem in 1930. it was taken over by a gangster and well-known bootlegger, owney madden.
- Describes the cotton club, which had its roots in harlem, but later moved to new york city and was in business from 1923 until 1940.
2135 wordsRead More - During this era, the African-American people were on the rise especial when they were all moving to the north to find what they truly desired. Especially in Harlem where everything happened and was alive. The movement that was the Harlem renaissance, brought all colored men and women together. This movement began after the First World War and ended in the early 1930s. Just like the European renaissance, the Harlem renaissance was the rebirth of a culture. This expressed and inspired artists, literature, poetry, music, dance, and many other artistic hobbies and talents that people could think of (Crash Course). This also became a social and political movement as well. This era defined what it meant to become a person of color, American, and an artist altogether.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how zora neal hurston dealt with african-american folklore when she studied anthropology at columbia university. her contributions and commitments constituted one of her most important contributions to the new negro movement and literary modernism.
- Explains that the harlem renaissance was the rebirth of a culture that inspired artists, literature, poetry, music, dance, and many other artistic hobbies and talents that people could think of.
- Analyzes how langston hughes was one of the most important writers during the harlem renaissance. his literary works spoke to the public about their suffering and the true negro experience.
- Analyzes how the harlem renaissance was a time for expression, to define and find what it meant to be black in america.
1146 wordsRead More - Race and Society in Jean Toomer's Caneanalytical essayThe Harlem Renaissance was an intellectual and literary period of growth promoting a new African American cultural identity in the United States. The decade between 1920 and 1930 was an extremely influential span of time for the Black culture. During these years Blacks were able to come together and form a united group that expressed a desire for enlightenment. This renaissance allowed Blacks to have a uniform voice in a society based upon intellectual growth. The front-runners of this revival were extremely focused on cultural growth through means of intellect, literature, art and music. By using these means of growth, they hoped to destroy the pervading racism and stereotypes suffocating the African American society and yearned for racial and social integration. Many Black writers spoke out during this span of time with books proving their natural humanity and desire for equality.
In this essay, the author
- Describes the harlem renaissance as an intellectual and literary period of growth promoting a new african american cultural identity in the united states.
- Analyzes how toomer's novel, cane, was published during the harlem renaissance and the second renaissance. it explains how other races in the north and south viewed blacks.
- Explains that jean toomer was born nathnan eugene pinchback, a light-skinned man who could pass for white, and his mother, nina, was of african-american descent.
- Analyzes how cane is written in a way that is different and freer versed than other novels. there are three sections where toomer describes situations having to do with different races in different areas of the states.
- Analyzes how the novel depicts poor african american women living in rural georgia. the opening segment contains stories depicting miscegenation, interbreeding, infanticide, religious mysticism, and lynching.
- Analyzes how toomer conveys that the black culture still has an immense amount of proving to do before the white man will allow the sun to shine on their accomplishments.
- Analyzes how the opening character toomer writes about in cane is an african american young woman named karintha.
- Argues toomer is allowing the white men in this section to ignore the social construct of race and lust over karintha to show how looks are the only factor governing these color barriers.
- Analyzes how the second section of cane takes place in washington d.c. where toomer describes the life of urban african americans in the early 1920's.
- Suggests that toomer has this moon shaped figure rising to show the growth of the african american culture from the past section.
- Analyzes how toomer's vignette titled "theater" conveys that the social construct society has placed upon race has created hierarchal tension in black on black relations but can still be overlooked by talent.
- Analyzes how toomer creates a relationship between dorris and john to show how one can be blinded by social status.
- Analyzes how toomer allows dorris to display her god-given dance skills so john will drop the prejudice and recognize the natural talents this talented african american girl holds.
- Analyzes how kabnis is a one-act play about an urban african american writer who travels to the south to seek an identity for his fellow african americans.
- Posits that this halo is an analogy for the sun. the sun is foreshadowing that the goal will be completed in the final section.
- Analyzes how ralph kabnis is a trailblazer for his african american culture and the walking model for the modernization of their race.
- Analyzes how jean toomer's art would dominate the prejudices and societal limits undermining the inner talents of each and every person. the harlem renaissance allowed african americans to conquer the social construct placed upon their race and achieve success by reveling their talents.
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