Describe the Harlem Renaissance Poets and their Works
The Project Paper focuses on a suggested topic related to art, architecture, history, music, or literature. The project will reflect your views and interpretation of the topic. This project is designed to help you stretch your mind and your abilities to be the creative, innovative, and critical thinker you already are! Choose one (1) of the topics from the list of topic choices below. Read the topic carefully. Write a three to four (3-4) page paper (750-1,000 words) that responds to each of the items described in the topic. For the topic you choose: Support your ideas with specific, illustrative examples. If there are questions or points associated with your chosen topic, be sure to answer all of the listed questions and address all of the items in that topic. If your topic asks you to do several things related to the topic, be sure to do each of the things listed. While some of the topics tend to lend themselves toward particular writing genres, you are not restricted to the specific format suggested for the individual topic. For example, you may do an “interview,” a “proposal,” a “letter,” a “short story,” a “blog,” an “essay,” an “article,” or any other written genre for almost any of the topics. The project is intended to be fun as well as informative, so feel free to be creative with the delivery of your information. Use at least three (3) good quality academic sources, with one (1) source being the class text. Topic choice: Harlem Renaissance Poets. Essay & Poem. Choose two (2) poems by different authors from the 1. Harlem Renaissance. Write an essay that: 2. Describes each author’s role and importance within the Harlem Renaissance. 3. Identify the elements in each of their poems in which you see evidence of the “double-consciousness” being expressed by each author. 4. Fully describe at least two (2) primary themes you see in the poetry written during this time period, referring to specific lines in each of the poems. Write your own poem that expresses these identified themes of the Harlem Renaissance. The Project Paper will be graded on: • The level to which the instructions were followed. • The extent to which all four (4) parts in the topic were addressed. • The adequacy of information, examples, and details which support the general claim or main idea. • The clarity and relevance of the explanations and descriptions. • Adherence to standard rules of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.
Harlem Renaissance Poets and their Works
Your Name
August 19, 2016
Insitution of Affiliation
Poems in the Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance is the period marked from the 1920s until the mid-1930s, when its momentum dwindled due to the advent of The Great depression CITATION His09 \l 1033 (History.com staff, 2009). Despite its short-lived life, it produced numerous artistic, literary, and intellectual pieces that “kindled a new black cultural identity†(Alain Locke, as cited by History.com staff, 2009). This then provided a template and a springboard for the future empowerment of the African-American population. As stated by Alain Locke in his work, the Harlem Renaissance provided the time when “Negro life is seizing its first chances for group expression and self-determination†CITATION His09 \l 1033 (History.com staff, 2009). Such examples of the exquisite collection of works during the time include music, drawings, caricatures, dance, poetry, etc. By reading between the lines and examining these pieces, one can easily find some underlying themes that are present. More particularly, themes that reflect the daily life and consciousness of African-Americans during the time. These themes can also be seen in the consciousness and perspective of its author, which can be classified in two different ways: (1) through their own (blacks) perspective and (2) through the eyes of the other races (a technique termed as double consciousness). Such perspective will be discussed in more detail in the succeeding chapters, but for the meantime, let’s read and enjoy some of these magnificent pieces written during those times.
Poets of the Harlem Renaissance, their Work and Impact
Tableau by Countee Cullen
– Dunkelberger, 2009
Locked arm in arm they cross the way
The Black boy and the White,
The Golden Splendor of the day
The Sable Pride of Night.
From lowered blinds the dark folk stare
And here the fair folk talk,
Indignant that these two should dare
In unison to walk.
Oblivious to look and word
They pass, and see no wonder
That lightning brilliant as a sword
Should blaze the path of thunder
Despite the impact that they made in the world using their own works, the period of the Harlem Renaissance was still infested with vices such as racial inequality, gender oppression, and economic unrest. This is more particularly true for African-Americans, even for those who are already living with the other races in the heart of the metropolises. As some of the most dominant themes present during that period, these inequalities permeated most of the works of art that are present today. In response to this Cullen’s piece as presented above conveys a vision of ‘equality’ among and between the “black boy and the whiteâ€. However, we can see that despite the effort of bringing racial equality in the picture, gender is almost ignored in his piece. Thus, this brings us to another masterpiece written by Gwendolyn Bennett. This particular one was dedicated for the appreciation of the black woman during the Harlem Renaissance to the present times.
Gwendolyn Bennett
‘To a Dark Girl’ by Gwendolyn Bennett
– Dunkelberger, 2009
I love you for your brownness,
And the rounded darkness of your breast;
I love you for the breaking sadness in your voice
And shadows where your wayward eyelids rest.
Something of old forgotten queens
Lurks in the lithe abandon of your walk,
And something of the shackled slave
Sobs in the rhythm of your talk.
Oh, little brown girl, born for sorrow's mate,
Keep all you have of queenliness,
Forgetting that you once were slave,
And let your full lips laugh at Fate!
In contrast with Cullen’s piece above, the poem ‘To a Dark Girl’ serves to empower African-American women in particular during the period. This can be seen as a bold move and a big leap in the advancement of gender equality, since feminist movements will only take its effect a few decades later. Generally though, as can be seen in these particular works, “equality†is the most dominant subject in this particular period. But aside from this, other topics such as; racial pride and solidarity, the South, African-American history, and individualism are also prominent subjects. We will go into more details in the succeeding chapters.
Double Consciousness in Harlem poetry...