Introduction

During this research project, we will be learning about a period in American history known as the Harlem Renaissance. The height of the Renaissance was during the 1920s, when the Harlem neighborhood of New York City was the center of an African American cultural "rebirth."

Long oppressed and considered inferior by White Americans, African Americans began producing outstanding art, music, and literature that could not be ignored or discounted. The arts became a way for African Americans to demonstrate their equality and express their unique culture and history. Numerous publications sprang up that became forums for displaying work as well as demanding equal rights.

Read a brief introduction to the Harlem Renaissance at Factmonster.