
![]() As a teacher I often wondered why the Harlem Renaissance unlike the European Renaissance lacked a scientific component. The European Renaissance was a period of tremendous production in the fields of art, science, and literature. As a matter of fact, the European Renaissance would be considered a golden age, and all such ages are marked by achievements in those three areas. But not the Harlem Renaissance, which was an explosion in just art and literature. Something seemed stereotypically racist about this. I was also aware of the numerous inventions and discovery made by Afrikan American and wondered why they were not connected to the Harlem Renaissance creating an “authentic” Renaissance. In order for that to happen, the geographic designation of the Renaissance has to be broadened. The European Renaissance involved a much larger geography so why shouldn't the Harlem Renaissance? The European Renaissance lasted nearly 300 years, the Harlem Renaissance less than 10. Is this a joke? The truth be told, the Harlem Renaissance is a white invention. Why? Because they created the market, and provided the clientele. It was part of a new fad called "slumming," which was when wealthy whites visited exotic, formerly forbidden enclaves to "let their hair down." But more importantly, it was a white creation because it was not new. As Hubert Harrison noted in 1927, in the Pittsburgh Courier, that those clamoring about the literary contributions of the Harlem Renaissance are overlooking the stream of literary and artistic products which had flowed uninterruptedly from Black writers from 1850 to the present. The difference was Afrikan Americans had already been celebrating and enjoying their own artistic splendor; white just hadn't "discovered" it yet. (And when they undiscovered it, the Harlem Renaissance ended.) I would also add that this same period saw the flowering of the Afrikan genius in general. It was the genie let out of the bottle, freed to express itself in American society: thus—the tremendous production of inventions and discoveries by Afrikan Americans. I suggest that rather than narrow our achievement to a ten year period in a particular section of a city, we should widen our geography and scope, remembering to be inclusive of all our post-freedom expressions, including the scientific ones. If we must have a Renaissance, now that's a Renaissance—An Afrikan Renaissance in American.
3 Comments
E.L. Britt
2/26/2013 11:39:28 am
Bro, I dig your angle and as always respect your insight! My take on OUR whole "renaissance" scenerio is similar to yours on part where they(whites) made it their priority to study us(afrikans), on an up close and personal level, to the point of when Harlem became HARLEM(where, excuse my french, german, portugese, and latin, but niggas who had something to say, COULD say it FREELY to anybody, to ANYBODY) their befriending and gaining of our trust to divide and conquer us, through themselves, became a... can't beat em' but (deceitfully) are very more than welcomed to join em type of campaign, established this whole entirely new form of JUDGEMENT. And as of today, in 2013, the primest example of the knowledge-less, unknowingly, given permission to the knowledgable the rights to exploit them just because of who shows us who we NEED TO SEE, guarantees me a vision of truth. I was forced before, now I'M going to school, UNDERSTANDING the laws of physics relies on the path of the least resistance, the world's full of people and fools.
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Seba Damani
2/26/2013 09:10:34 pm
The good thing is you are in school because you want to be and your eyes are wide open. But don't loose sight of why you are there. Many a teacher/professor will fail you or not give you the grade deserved because of your views especially if you openly challenge them, and their sense of self is inadequate.
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Ephantus Kimani Muhia
9/5/2013 09:13:02 am
This is sad that the Harlem Renaissance could only be celebrated for 10 years. I tend to wonder what makes us seem to be lagging behind. Like you mentioned Seba, Afrikaans had some great pieces that they had been enjoying for a long time. I think lack of exposure is what lets down the African- Americans. I really appreciate your insight which serves as an eye opener to most of the things that happen in the world.
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