The Harlem Renaissance and The Rise of African-American Literature

The Harlem Renaissance movement is a product of early 20th century America, in which African-American artists explored their intersectional identities of being artists, black, and American, especially the byproduct of being all three simultaniously.

The movement invited African-Americans to present forms of art that would shatter the the stereotypical view of African-American culture, increase visibilty, and elevate African-Americans. Much of the work from the movement was a celebration of black culture, however, many artists did not shy away from addressing difficult themes such as, alienation, and discrimination. Moreover, this movement did not create African-American artists, but it made them known beyond the limits of their respective communities.

When it came to the movement's impact on literature, the rise of African-American literature is owed in no small part to Langston Hughes, a poet and writer who is largly credited with shattering the predetermined structure of writing poetry, and using inherently African-American structures derived from fables, blues, and folk forms.

This artistic revolution allowed for more inclusivity in the arts, it allowed the narrative to be told by its own people, instead of the distorted and stereotypical version provided by white culture.