Definition

Proper noun: - A cultural, social, and artistic explosion: The Harlem Renaissance refers to a significant period, primarily during the 1920s, centered in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, where African American achievements in art, music, literature, and intellectual thought flourished and gained national and international recognition.

Usage

• The term is used as a proper noun to name a specific historical and cultural movement.
• It describes an era of prolific creativity and a redefinition of African American identity and expression.

Examples

• As a subject:
  • The Harlem Renaissance was a golden age for African American culture.
  • Scholars study the Harlem Renaissance to understand its impact on American art.
• In descriptive context:
  • Many great writers emerged during the Harlem Renaissance.
  • The music of the Harlem Renaissance, like jazz and blues, influenced generations.

Advanced Usage

• "The New Negro Movement": This is a synonymous term often used in historical and academic discussions to describe the same period, emphasizing a new, proud, and self-aware African American identity.
  • Alain Locke's anthology "The New Negro" is a foundational text of the Harlem Renaissance.

Variants and Related Words

• Renaissance (noun): A revival of or renewed interest in something. The Harlem Renaissance is a specific instance of this broader concept.
• Harlem (proper noun): The area in northern Manhattan that served as the geographic and spiritual center of this movement.

Synonyms

• The New Negro Movement
• Black Renaissance (though this is less specific and can refer to other periods)

Related Concepts and Phrases

• Jazz Age: A term for the 1920s that overlaps significantly with the Harlem Renaissance, highlighting the central role of jazz music.
• Great Migration: The mass movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban centers in the North, which provided the demographic and social context for the Harlem Renaissance.

Noun

1. a period in the 1920s when African-American achievements in art and music and literature flourished