Black Woman Identity within the Harlem Renaissance

Black Woman Identity within the Harlem Renaissance

Introduction

United Sates of America has been known to have faced a number of controversies in the past. The most highlighted includes the controversies regarding the black community living in America. For decades, there have been discussions, arguments and incidents regarding the struggle of the black community to survive in United States. Moreover, the Americans have been criticized and accused of the racial discrimination because of the biased attitude of various governments or government officials towards the black community in America. Besides the deprivation of some of the necessities, the African American Community has also complained from time to time of the minimal growth and development of the intellects and artists of the black community. Hence, there have been a number of campaigns that were conducted by the African American Community in order to promote their talent and values. One of the most revolutionary of these includes the Harlem Renaissance.

Discussion

Flourished in the year 1920, The Harlem Renaissance was conducted in New York. However, before the Harlem Renaissance, the black Americans, men or women, were not allowed to pursue any filed of art as a profession. These laws by Jim Crow separated blacks from mainstream American lifestyle. Hence, such a campaign played a vital part in the protection of the intellectual rights of the African community (Huggins, 1971).

Women in the Renaissance

The women of that era contributed as willingly and effectively as the African men. These female individuals realized that they have a very important role to play if the Black Community aims to recreate its social identity through various means that includes literature, art, visual, music, and entertainment. Therefore, besides the contribution of the African Males, Harlem Renaissance is the evidence of the dedication, hard work and talent of the African American females who succeed in establishing and promoting the idea of a “New Negro Woman” (Huggins, 1971).

The Renaissance therefore can be considered as the most revolutionary era for African American women authors, poets and intellectuals, which were famous for their race conscious styles of writing. These African American Females in the Renaissance played an essential role in voicing the struggle of the African American women. The women emphasized on the various sacrifices they have to make on the basis of being a part of the colored African minority in America. Hence, these female individuals utilized this movement in order to express their opinions and views on gender and race relations and their affects and consequences on the African American female population.

The important thing to note here is that the aim behind this movement was not just to claim the basic civil rights that included better and sufficient health facilities, housing accommodations, education facilities and better job opportunities. Neither was this movement a struggle for earning back the artistic right to be allowed to practice individual talents and capabilities. In fact, the movement aimed to achieve results far greater and essential for the future of the African American Community struggling ...