Studying the Harlem Renaissance today, so many years later, is important for the same reasons it's important to learn about anything in history. From the positive artistic influences that continue to inspire today to the remnants of the hatred the writers of the Harlem Renaissance addressed that are still present in our country.
Also, there are the brilliant works of literature that some of us in the class may have been familiar with prior to taking the class and others who were not. If discovering one writer, out of the various authors covered in class, whose work you truly enjoy was the result of this course, then that alone makes it worth it.
From this class I take a new understanding of some favorite writers and an awakening to works of writers I'd never heard of, but am very glad I did. My best to everyone, have a blessed holiday break.
2 comments:
I think it is important to study the Harlem Renaissance because it is our history. The literature we read this semester gave us a taste of the literature that was written during the time by African Americans. We were able to read stories about African Americans passing for white, the struggle African Americans faced living in a dominating white society, and the history and culture of African Americans. Although there are many more authors that could have been read and influential, this class allowed us to see different writers and different aspects of the Harlem Renaissance.
I could not agree more with your second paragraph! I always feel that way about classes, and I have especially experienced that feeling with Harlem Renaissance Literature. Up until this class, I had never read "Cane," or even heard of Jean Toomer However, after completing the novel and discussing it in class, I've been wanting to read more of his works, and I would count "Cane" as one of my favorite books. This class not only taught me about the Harlem Renaissance, but helped me discover new authors whose work I respect and enjoy.
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