Summary

The Harlem Renaissance had different purposes, whether it was to uplift the “race;” to create art by African Americans; or to create art about African Americans and the black experience, without whitewashing the description. However, the idea of “race” is somewhat ambiguous, as in Passing, where the characters seem to struggle to figure out racial identities. These differing opinions in the purpose of the Harlem Renaissance are also exhibited by the authors discussed in today's class.  

Langston Hughes expresses the emerging fascination with the African American race in his poem, "Note on Commercial Theatre." White people at that time had begun adapting African stories and music in order to better fit white audiences. In this poem, Hughes makes a point that his history is worth exploring. He isn't trying to create an image of perfection but wants to portray what really happened--the good with the bad--without white-washing the black experience.

Hughes' poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" echoes poet Walt Whitman.  Both poets feel joined to the collective experience of humanity throughout time.  Hughes travels from to the first civilizations up to modern day, connecting the blacks of America back to the building of the pyramids.  Just like Whitman, Hughes' poem has no form, long lines, and uses personal pronouns. 

Mckay's poem "The Lynching" is a sonnet.  Although modernism is about getting rid of tradition, McKay uses an old form of poetry to talk about something new.  This poem sounds like Christ's Crucifixion, creating a parallel of a lynching to the death of Christ.  The ninth line indicates a shift from night (poetic language) to day (matter of fact language).  At the end of the poem there is no blame put upon the crowd because lynching is natural during this time and is a normal event in culture. 

Word Count: 300

Passages

"From The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain," Langston Hughes - "We younger Negro artists who create now intend to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame. If white people are pleased we are glad. If they are not, it doesn't matter. We know we are beautiful. And ugly too."

This passage expresses Hughes' feelings about his history. He wants to make sure that history is told truthfully and without alteration. By claiming that his race is beautiful and "ugly too," Hughes is attempting to illustrate the truth or his race without it being white-washed.

"The Weary Blues," Langston Hughes - "Droning a drowsy syncopated tune,/ Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon,/ I heard a Negro play."

These first three lines of the poem would seem to be in reference to the one playing the instrument, but in reality it is the speaker/writer that is "rocking back and forth." This is odd, but it seems to put the singer/player and the speaker/writer as equals. This confusion of roles in the beginning lines creates a connection between these two men that the reader will not recognize til the third line of the poem.

"I, Too", Langston Hughes- "I, too, sing America. /I am the darker brother./ They send me to eat in the kitchen/ When company comes," This is another poem of Hughes' that reflects Whitman's style. Hughes uses personal pronouns and a collective experience to tell the story of this poem. Whitman also writes "Song of Myself" and Hughes' says "I, too, sing American" meaning I am just as American as any white person.

Key Terms