Arts
of the Harlem Renaissance
Keeping Up With the Times
After World War I, many Americans felt that it was time for a change in their country. During the 1920's a mass influx of culture came pouring in, especially due to the Europeans that were entering the country. During this time, Europeans were substantially more open-minded than Americans and certainly more culturally diverse. From this new movement came all sorts of new and different styles of art and literature that would change the course of American society forever.
Because Harlem, New York, was one of the largest metropolises of black life in the North, it became the epicenter for black social, political and cultural activities. Harlem allowed blacks to glorify African American traditions and at the same time create new ones. African Americans felt that it was their time to stand up and fight for equal rights and fair treatment towards them. Many African Americans chose to leave their homes in the South, where the idea of "white supremacy" largely reigned, to move up North where they would potentially be more accepted and have more employment opportunities. This was known as the Great Migration.