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Poetry of the Harlem Renaissance

© Linda Sue Grimes

The literary period known as the Harlem Renaissance saw a great outpouring of poetry by African Americans. Because February is Black History Month, a useful way of celebrating that history is to have a look at the great poets and the poetry they created so prolifically during that time.

James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) was truly a renaissance man, writing poetry, novels, music and serving as ambassador to Venezuela. His song, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," became known as the Negro National Anthem. He was a founding member of the NAACP, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Listen to Arna Bontemps read Johnson's wonderful poem, "The Creation."

Jean Toomer (1894-1967) was born in Washington D.C. His skin was light, and he passed as white during various periods of his life, but he remained aware of the great racial divide that plagued the country. He became interested in yoga through the teachings of Gurdjieff; he sought transcendence of the race issues, which the unifying doctrines of yoga impart. Listen to Arna Bontemps read Toomer's poems, "Song of the Son."

Langston Hughes (1902-1967) is considered a leading figure of that great renaissance. His poetry is well-known and studied widely in schools and colleges across the country. Probably his most famous poem is "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," which he wrote when he was only eighteen. He went on the write much unforgettable prose as well, including the Semple Stories. Listen to Langston read his poem, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers."

Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000), who was born in Topeka, Kansas, authored more than twenty books of poetry. Annie Allen won the Pulitzer Prize in 1949. She published a novel, Maud Martha in 1953 and in 1972 her autobiography Report from Part One. In 1968 she was appointed state Poet Laureate for Illinois. She served as U. S. Poet Laureate 1985-86, when the position was titled Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. She earned many awards for her writing. She made her home in Chicago, where she died December 3, 2000. Hear her read her much anthologized poem, "We Real Cool."

Other poets of this dynamic period include the following:
Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)
Angelina W. Grimke (1880-1958)
Jessie Redmon Fauset (1882-1961)
Anne Spencer (1882-1976)
Claude McKay (1891-1948)
Esther Popel (1896-1958)
Sterling A. Brown (1901-1989)
Gwendolyn B. Bennett (1902-1981)
Countee Cullen (1903-1946)
Robert Hayden (1913-1980).

The Harlem Renaissance was a lively time in American History, an important period of growth for the African American community, and nowhere is that liveliness and growth more visible than in the wonderful, dynamic poetry of that literary era.

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