The Harlem Renaissance was born as a result of the significant events which occurred in the lives of Afro-Americans at the beginning of the 20th century. The abolition of slavery, the mass migration of the Afro-Americans to the North, their participation in the First World War, and other historical events let black people express themselves through art. The Harlem Renaissance strived to change the social stereotypes and deliver the unique culture of Afro-Americans to white people. Through this movement, the conventional perception of whiteness, sexual and gender norms was changed. The Harlem Renaissance has significantly changed the Americans’ understanding of culture and liberty.
The critical point why the Harlem Renaissance was that influential is it free of limitations nature. For example, blues music could have addressed any forbidden theme of sexuality and race. This is why it was so beckoning even for white people. The Harlem Renaissance artists like Louis Armstrong managed to change the conventional perception of race through sharing the Afro-American cultural peculiarities. For example, the song called East of the Sun expresses the emotions of black lovers, which are genuinely beautiful (Western Jazz Trio). Through such pieces of art, the white Americans came to an understanding of the Afro culture.
The Harlem Renaissance is considered to formulate a tolerant and respectful attitude to the race peculiarities and the gender ones. Various authors were striving to highlight the significance of homosexuality through their creations. For example, Nella Larsen wrote the novel Passing, which described same-sex relationships as equal to the conventional ones (“Harlem Renaissance, Homosexuality, and Passing”).
Not to mention the various events created for homosexuals, which were usually held in a nightie in different clubs of Harlem (“Harlem Renaissance, Homosexuality, and Passing”). By implementing the Harlem Renaissance aspect in the American culture, Afro-Americans managed to put the questions about equality and liberty of all genders into social cognition. As far as art is a powerful, influential instrument, the tolerance to different sexes and races slowly became entrenched in the Americans’ minds. Thus, the Harlem Renaissance is a significant element influencing the culture forming of the Americans.
Works Cited
“Harlem Renaissance, Homosexuality, and Passing.” Women in Literature. 2018. Web.
Western Jazz Trio. “East of the Sun (And West of the Moon).” Spotify. Web.