A Page-Turning Nation
The literary renaissance is the true reason why the Harlem Renaissance is called that: one of the most famous and somewhat obscure authors that sprouted from this time period is Zora Neale Hurston (above); their eyes were watching God became an automatic success. Other famous African-Americans on the literary forefront included Langtson Hughes who wrote poetry, but also pioneered the new and innovative "jazz" poetry, his most famous work being The Negro Speak of the River; Claude McKay, was a Jamaican-born black man who came to Harlem to write and compose poetry and wrote Home to Harlem, and finally, W.E.B. DuBois, an author and an activist who was the first to receive African-American to receive a doctorate degree (which he received from Harvard).JJ
Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes devoted his writings to the Renaissance: many of them rang with civil rights in their texts and he was one of the leading members of the racial equality movements of the time. W.E.B. DuBois was the leader of such feelings toward racial equality and Langston's writings helped support that. Aside from The Negro Speak of the River, he also wrote Dream Deferred, and I Tow.JJ
Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston is one of the most obscure authors because few people know very many details of her life: Alice Walker wrote an essay on her trek through Florida in search of knowledge regarding Zora and very few people seemed to know who she was. As far as can be told from Walker's essay, "Looking for Zora," she died and was given a pauper's funeral with an unmarked grave. One of Zora's other famous works was Mules and Men.JJ
W.E.B. DuBois
W.E.B. DuBois was both an author and civil rights activist. His contemporary, Booker T. Washington, did much to help improve the black school system, but he did not openly challenge the law of segregation, feeling that he would make little progress; DuBois, on the other hand, did call for "equality now" and used both his writings and his activism to convey this message.JJ
Claude McKay
Claude McKay was born in Jamaica and came to the United States for college, and he eventually stayed here and wrote many poems. He used his writings to express the injustice of black life in America as well as to depict Harlem as a wonderful and homey place for he did love Harlem and put down permanent roots there. His works not only enhanced the Harlem Renaissance, but it also inspired many young black that followed.JJ