There were many great African American writers during the Harlem Renaissance but in my paper I will talk about a few that I felt made an important contribution in the 1920’s. In the early 1920’s there were three works that brought awareness the African American literature. First, in 1922 Claude McKay was the first black writer that published a volume of poetry “Harlem Shadows” by a mainstream national publisher. Second, in 1923 was by Jean Toomer who wrote a novel named “Cane” that had both poetry and prose that was about the life of black Americans in the rural South and urban North. Last, in 1924 a writer and editor named Jesse Fauset that wrote “There Is Confusion.” His writing was from an African American women’s viewpoint about the middle-class life. With these works as a foundation, three events between the years of 1924 and 1926 brought the Harlem Renaissance to attention.

They were given the thought since slavery, to be the ones with no history or race as a result writing let the writer and reader discover that they have a heritage. During the Harlem Renaissance past writing or writing done about a persons history became popular because it was real. African American writing is worthy; it is because it is “raw” and “rich” like “ore” but this “ore” needs western influence on it (Morrison, 250). Western influence could have value on writing but only where it is needed. Morrison felt that if the writing was refined the writer will not get the credit and/or it will become different from the original text. There are three focuses that Morrison states about how African American literature is the key into sociology. First, African American literature is “based on its culture, its history, and the artistic strategies (Morrison, 251).” That is why Harlem Renaissance literature is one of the key aspect in bringing alive the African American culture. Second, was that African American literature plays an important part in shaping American literature. Third, is that African American literature is put into the same category as “white” literature. There is a reason that makes black literature “black.” Morison explains that the main viewpoint is “cultural distinction” and the difference in language and the way it is portrayed. Black literature has a different feeling than any other writing.

In young America writers had no competition with writers from other nations. They felt that other nations were not “interested in the writing world” (254). They could comment on them but they didn’t have the fear of them writing anything back. If one was looked at a work and had remarks said about them, it would be out of a political need. In early American writings there is more meaning or significance than one would think. Writer Herman Melville works was one that was looked at. Melville writing was about American slavery and American freedom but his main view was about black slavery. These observations differ than the Harlem Renaissance because in the 1920’s there were many writers all over the world. Because there were so many writers people always wanted to become on top of the others. There are ways in which African American culture impacts American literature. This analysis that Morrison states about African American literature compares to the Harlem Renaissance literary works. “They were witnesses of their work” give the reader an experience into a person’s life (Morrison, 251). “Silences were broken” and the black cult

Some topics in this essay:
African American, Harlem Renaissance, African Americans, african american, Africans Americans, Vechten Harlem, Survey Graphic, Americans Literature, Hughes Hughes, Hughes Cullen, Jean Toomer, harlem renaissance, american literature, african american literature, african americans, black writers, black white, african american culture, black literature, american culture, african american women, culture african, american women, morrison african american, writers harlem renaissance,