The Harlem Renaissance was an explosion of Black literary, musical, and artistic production that occurred between 1917 and 1935. Based in Harlem, New York, the writers, musicians, and visual artists from this important period sought to advance the cause of Black civil rights through representations of what notable writer Alain Locke termed “The New Negro.” Working to counter common stereotypes and present an alternative to racist representations of African Americans in popular culture, Harlem Renaissance writers instead depicted their Black subjects in a positive, humanizing light. The literary project of the Harlem Renaissance was twofold: Writers wanted to provide a window into the Black experience in modern-day America and showcase the literary talent of their communities, proving that Black-authored texts deserved a place in the American literary canon.

Although its origins are complex and multifaceted, two critical sociohistorical phenomena laid the groundwork for the Harlem Renaissance: the “Red Summer” of 1919 and the Great Migration. The summer of 1919, which came on the heels of the Russian Revolution and the conclusion of World War I, was a period of intense racial discord and brutal violence in the United States. Many Black Americans fought in the war, and although they enjoyed recognition and acceptance in the armed forces, they returned to an often hostile country marked by inequality and prejudice.