The Harlem Renaissance & The Civil Rights Movement: Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes was the most famous poet of the Harlem Renaissance. He wrote in a style that used rhythm similar to that of jazz and blues music. His writings encouraged racial pride; an example is his poem first published in 1923 titled "My People:"

The night is beautiful,
So the faces of my people.
The stars are beautiful,
So the eyes of my people
Beautiful, also, is the sun.
Beautiful, also, are the souls of my people.

He once said, "My seeking has been to explain and illuminate the Negro condition in America and obliquely that of all human kind." He believed in a diverse and special culture for black Americans, rather than assimilation. His poetry was very politically minded, making him associated with the Communist Party at times, and filled with the culture, rhythm, and ideals specific to the Harlem Renaissance, but it was well-loved by all types of Americans.

What was the Harlem Renaissance?

1919-1930. The Roaring Twenties helped bridge the area between mere survival and culture, beauty, and creativity in the United States. The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural revolution. Black artists, poets, philosophers, musicians, and authors created their own ways to express themselves without the influence of the white population. It meant freedom of expression, creating their own identity, and making their own place in history. Musicians during the Harlem Renaissance created the first specifically American genre--jazz. Extraordinary revolutionaries were demanding racial equality in the political world through their stories, characters, and talents.

What was the Civil Rights Movement?

1955-1968. During the Civil Rights Movement, black Americans demanded their freedom from racial discrimination and segregation. Not only were decisions like Plessy vs. Ferguson challenged in court, but there were also tons of active protests from ordinary citizens who participated in boycotts and sit-ins. Direct action and honesty were the important elements in the art representing the movement, and the artists of the time were essential in bringing the issues to the forefront of American culture.

Harlem Renaissance/Civil Rights Movement

Both the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movement had the same purpose--equal rights for black Americans, but the approaches were much different. The Harlem Renaissance took an indirect approach to reaching the ultimate goal. The writers, artists, and musicians created their own means of expression and proved themselves as artists and writers of fiction. The Civil Rights Movement sought direct and immediate action. The writers wrote about the reality of society's racial issues. The photographers documented the reality of the movement, no matter how harsh the truth was. The musicians came right out and said what the problem was and how it could be fixed. While the Harlem Renaissance changed perception, the Civil Rights Movement changed legislation.

Langston Hughes

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