During the Harlem Renaissance, there were many musicians. Popular music during the time was blues and jazz. One of the most famous musicians during this time was Scott Joplin. Joplin was famous for his ragtime music; many referred to him as the "King of Ragtime." Ragtime music was similiar to jazz music in that it made people feel good and want to dance. It had a syncopated rhythm that Joplin described as a "swing." One of Joplin's most famous songs was "A Picture of her Face." The song was about a man whose loved one died and all he has to remember her by was a picture of her face. Although the words of the song were sad, the beat was uplifting. The purpose of this song was to show that good memories live on in pictures, and continue to bring joy even in times of sorrow. "A Picture of her Face" embodied the Harlem Renaissance because it showed the struggles in people's lives and how they overcame them.
Art was also an important part of African American culture during the Harlem Renaissance. Jacob Lawrence was a famous artist who used bright colors and geometric shapes to create his masterpieces. Lawrence used colors in his work to exemplify the colors found in many Black homes. He often painted important scenes showing African American struggles.In many of his works, especially in "Mullet Friday," Lawrence showed the
craziness and happiness of the people during the Harlem Renaissance era. The purpose for Lawrence painting "Mullet Friday" was to help people better understand what African Americans were going through during the Harlem Renaissance. When people looked at this particular piece of artwork, they saw joyful expressions on the people's faces. The way the people gathered and talked in the painting made people think that everyone in that painting was united and close. African Americans had a sense of community. The colors and shapes in the painting showed the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance. Lawrence's painting shows the sense of the unity and joyfulness that was occurring during the Harlem Renaissance.Writers during the Harlem Renaissance were also significant. Many writers during this time wrote about characters dealing with struggles. One male writer that used this theme in multiple writings was Langston Hughes. In "Dear Lovely Death," he wrote about death being a good change, not something horrible that most people would dread. Hughes' purpose was to make readers realize that death was not the worst thing that could happen. Another author that wrote about struggles was Zora Neale Hurston. Hurston was one of the few female writers during this time. In Hurston's novel, Their Eyes were Watching God, she wrote about a young lady struggling to find a "happy ending." The purpose of this book was to help people deal with their own struggles in life. Both Hughes and Hurston wrote about struggles that African Americans had endured. This was a common theme reflected in Harlem Renaissance literature.
During the Harlem Renaissance, many people looked to art, literature, and music to express their feelings of during this time period. Black musicians, artists, and writers were accepted as never before. The Harlem Renaissance laid the groundwork for the future Civil Rights movement by allowing Blacks to express racial pride and celebrate their ethnicity.
