African American Voices During the Harlem Renaissance

 

         

Brown Jr., Samuel, "Girl in Blue Dress." 1936, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

            The time between the end of World War I to the beginning of the Great Depression gave rise to more than the literary artists known as the “Lost Generation,” it also saw the rise and celebration of African American culture and heritage within American Literature and society, which became known as the “Harlem Renaissance.” This movement celebrated African American traditions and experiences, and like many similar movements of the Modernist age, sought to break away from traditional forms and meters, by highlighting the unique African American identity, in both cultural and personal aspects, and by tackling many of the social critiques of the time. The ways in which authors of this movement used their voices and works to reflect the feelings of African Americans during this movement can be seen beautifully evidenced in The Norton Anthology of American Literature 1914-1945, particularly through Zora Hurston’s “Sweat” (p 541-49), and through Claude McKay’s “America” (p 485).

            Zora Hurston uses her voice to celebrate the beauty of African American culture and identity within “Sweat,” and she employs many of the techniques of modernists to do so. For instance, throughout this work she uses African American vernacular to give this work an authentic feel. Like the way in which the main character, Delia, asks her husband “Where you been wit mah rig (541, par 7)?” this type of authentic language helps her to breathe life into her works, but it also highlights the beauty and individuality of African American traditions and culture. But more than that, Hurston uses “Sweat,” to challenge traditional gender roles, as she focuses on everyday people, their pursuit of identity, and their personal trials and triumphs. Hurston uses the abuse inflicted upon Delia to address the inequalities and struggling balance of power felt by many African Americans during this time. As the story progresses Delia goes from shy and subservient, before her “habitual meekness seemed to slip from her shoulders like a blown scarf” and she begins to take her power back (542, par 5).

            Claude McKay uses his literary voice in his poem, “America,” to address the complicated and often contradictory way many African American’s felt during the time of the Harlem Renaissance. Like many other modernist authors, he did so by using vibrant imagery to address this contradiction, addressing both the flaws and failings of this country while at the same time celebrating its beauty and opportunity. It focuses on the realities of oppression that many African Americans faced, as he claims America’s “bitterness” is “Stealing (his) breath for life,” while at the same time “Her (America’s) vigor flows like tides into (his) blood (485, 1; 3; 5.)” Even the words he uses throughout this poem evidence the conflicted feelings of African Americans. For example, in line 11 he says, “Darkly I gaze into the days ahead,” and if we examine the definitions of darkly, as seen through Merriam-Webster Online, the varied meanings can be seen, such as the initial definition which is something “devoid or partially devoid of light : not receiving, reflecting, transmitting, or radiating light,” but it can also mean that it is “arising from or showing evil traits or desires,” and even that something is “not clear to the understanding,” and each meaning greatly changes the understanding of what he is attempting to convey (n.d.).

            Both authors used their literary voices to capture the feelings and realities of African Americans during the Harlem Renaissance. Hurston used hers to capture the feelings of African American everyday life, highlighting a personal story that delved deep into the realities many of them had to face. While McKay used his poetry to highlight the conflicted feelings and realities many African Americans felt and faced during this time. Both authors used the growing techniques of modernism to advance their voices, albeit in unique ways, that helped to voice what many of their constituents wished to say. 

 

Works Cited:

 Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Darkly definition & meaning. Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/darkly

Levine, Robert S., et al. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Volume D: 1914-1945.

W.W. Norton & Company, 2022.

Artwork Cited: 

Brown Jr., Samuel, "Girl in Blue Dress." 1936, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

*last edited on May 3, 2025 - added image and made grammatical corrections*