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The Harlem Renaissance The Harlem Renaissance was a 20th century movement of diverse art forms occurring in New York City. During the time this change was referred to as "New Negro Movement” (Johnston). The movement was responsible for giving new opportunities to African American artists. Additionally, the Harlem Renaissance empowered everyday black Americans that were discriminated against. During this time, there were several notable figures that helped lead and expand the movement. As a result, the Harlem Renaissance has made an enormous cultural impact in the United States. The initial emergence of the Harlem Renaissance can be traced back to 1865. During this time, African Americans were experiencing their first chance of freedom. After …show more content…
During this period, magazines and newspapers were crucial to spreading awareness and information. A few of these magazines were The Crisis, Opportunity, and The Messenger. All of these magazines were influential in gathering support for the movement. Harlem quickly became a “symbolic capital” for the Renaissance because of its popular nightlife and art. The 3 diverse forms of art during this time were poetry and prose, painting and sculpture, jazz and swing, opera and dance (“A New African American Identity: The Harlem Renaissance”). A few of the most notable contributors to this movement were W.E.B. Du Bois, Zora Neale Hurston, Louis Armstrong, and Langston Hughes. Du Bois served as a leader during the civil rights movement and helped found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Additionally, he contributed to the literary movement with a collection of essays. Hurstan was a prominent writer that was best known for her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. Louis Armstrong was a leading figure in jazz. He was a trumpeter and vocalist who is recognised as one of the most influential jazz artists in

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