Harlem renaissance 2
Harlem renaissance 2When you think of Harlem the Harlem Renaissance, What is the first word
that comes to mind? Harlem Renaissance was the great movement of the black
race from the deep rural south to the urban Harlem city during the 1920s to
1930s. It was the time of the black Americans to show and reflect their
talents throughout society. It was the time to prove something to the world.
The time of emancipation, the time of dignity, the time of passion, the time
of the art, the time of the music, etc. Do we really know why these people
have migrated? What caused them to migrate? These are some of the questions
that filled in my mind when I think of the Harlem Renaissance. Where did
these great talented people came from? What motivated them into becoming and
showing to the world that they are somebody?
Looking back through the years and years of poverty, bad condition, unequal
living, and having no right to be able to have their own voice in a white
dominated society, these were just the bits of images that African Americans
or should I say "blacks" because either way, even if you were black from
Jamaica or from some other places, the white majority still considered you as
"niggers". A race that is inferior and has no way into revolting against
the domination of whites. There were a lot of regulations and restrictions
that blacks faced during the time of slavery. Being considered a property is
one of the hardship that they went through. They were basically treated like
animals with no saying. They were sold here and there. There were also
times that a person would get separated from their family. That person will
never again see their family! The blacks were considered second class
citizens. Although there were many obstacles that they encountered during
their time period, they were able to escape that adversity.
The main reason why people were able to escape that adversity was because
they were willing to do anything, anything that would improve their life
condition in the South.
"The wash and rush of this human tide on the beach line of the northern city
centers is to be explained primarily in terms of a new vision of opportunity,
of social and economic freedom, of a spirit to seize, even in the face of an
extortionate and heavy toll, a chance for the improvement of conditions."
(Locke, Alain 179)
The south was a place for "slaveowners". This was a place that they had to
get out of. They had to escape and face the...
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