Creative Movement, Harlem Renaissance, Helped Black People Express Themselves

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During the early 1900s, African Americans in the South faced several difficult struggles. To escape these hardships, many decided to travel to the North in search of a better life. The time period when millions of black Americans abandoned their old southern lives and migrated to cities in the Northeast, Midwest, and West is known as the Great Migration. (Wilkerson). Once settled in these cities, African Americans were pleased find that they were able to express themselves through art, literature, and music. This creative movement was known as the Harlem Renaissance. The Great Migration influenced the Harlem Renaissance because it led African Americans to northern cities where they gathered together and made amazing creative achievements. Writers like Claude McKay expressed the feelings that all African Americans felt about discrimination in America while encouraging them to stay strong and proud. The literary voice in the poetry created during the Harlem Renaissance was greatly influenced by the Great Migration.

The Great Migration was the movement of more than 6 million African Americans from the South to Northeastern, Midwestern, and Western cities. Before it began, 90 percent of all African Americans were living in the South. By the end, nearly half of them were living in cities of the North and West. (Wilkerson). During this time, the Southern economy was suffering greatly. Wages were low, jobs were few and pests called bull weevils could destroy entire cotton crops. (Liccone 3). After the passing of the 13th Amendment, freed slaves were allowed to leave their plantations and start a new life. However, leaving their plantation could result in angry whites hurting or killing them, so most were convinced to stay with their fo...

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...eparation between blacks and whites, and he uses both positive and negative word choices. One example shows how McKay, along with all the other African Americans of America, are “sharp as steel with discontent”, and how they are proud to express their frustration to the world. This communicates his hopeful attitude because it encourages other black citizens to do the same. He proves his tone when he tells African Americans to stay strong and to ignore the discrimination happening around them.

The Great Migration influenced “White Houses” because it shows the displeasure and disappointment black felt after they found out that the North was not the paradise that they were searching for. It also shows how blacks were not as protected as whites were under the law.

Claude McKay’s poem “White Houses” expresses the anger and frustration blacks felt about the North.

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