Explore the Literary Giants of the Harlem Renaissance

The Literary Leaders of the Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that brought African American art, literature, and music to the forefront of American culture. Writers from this era captured the complexities of race, identity, and the African American experience in powerful works that continue to resonate today.

Figures like Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Claude McKay explored themes of race, heritage, and social justice through their groundbreaking works. Their writing not only redefined American literature but also provided a voice for a marginalized community.

Did You Know?

• Langston Hughes was a leading poet of the Harlem Renaissance, known for his vivid depictions of African American life.
• Zora Neale Hurston's ’˜Their Eyes Were Watching God' is a landmark novel in African American literature.
• Claude McKay's poem ’˜If We Must Die' became a call to action during the Harlem Renaissance.
• W.E.B. Du Bois helped to organize the Niagara Movement, which sought political and civil rights for African Americans.