The Harlem Renaissance was an African American movement that consisted of inspiring black literature, drama, art, music, and more. Countee Cullen was a motivating author and poet, who helped influence the Harlem Renaissance movement. His works were used during this time to help empower African Americans and to help demand equality. He showed the true cruelty and pain that African Americans suffered, yet he did not speak negatively of the white ethnic group. Cullen embraced not only the African American culture, but he also embraced the white culture. By doing this he helped African Americans gain respect through his writings and charismatic personality. Through his authentic voice, Countee Cullen tried to help change the way African Americans
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The poem was written so boldly to represent how the light is not better than the dark, and when Cullen says dark, it means African Americans. The tone of the poem was harsh and demanding, even though Cullen was not violent. The Harlem Renaissance was not a movement that involved brutality either, yet the works of African Americans were meant to stir the hearts of other blacks and show the whites that they were a force to reckon with, and that they were also just as good. That is exactly what the poem did, because, “During the Harlem Renaissance, many thinkers insisted on the beauty of the black body, perhaps for the first time in artistic history. Langston Hughes and Cullen were joined in this respect at least, for in life and poetry both stated their belief (in essence) that black was beautiful” (Stockle). Cullen helped change the view of African Americans in the poem when he clearly states, “White stars is no less lovely being dark,/ And there are buds that cannot bloom at all/ In light, but crumple, piteous, and fall;” (10-12). The Harlem Renaissance was a movement that fought for equality among races. Through the poem Cullen showed how what the whites minimized and hated, could be the very thing to make certain flowers blossom, when light could cause certain flowers to die. The poem used imagery and symbolism to express the truth about the black society and it provided a voice that demanded equality. Going back to slavery African American did all the work; however, they did not receive a fair profit, and Cullen understood that even now African Americans do not receive what is due to them by saying, “We shall not always plant while others reap” (1). Cullen is making a declaration that the injustice of African Americans will come to a stop. That African Americans will start reaping the harvest that is due
The poem was written so boldly to represent how the light is not better than the dark, and when Cullen says dark, it means African Americans. The tone of the poem was harsh and demanding, even though Cullen was not violent. The Harlem Renaissance was not a movement that involved brutality either, yet the works of African Americans were meant to stir the hearts of other blacks and show the whites that they were a force to reckon with, and that they were also just as good. That is exactly what the poem did, because, “During the Harlem Renaissance, many thinkers insisted on the beauty of the black body, perhaps for the first time in artistic history. Langston Hughes and Cullen were joined in this respect at least, for in life and poetry both stated their belief (in essence) that black was beautiful” (Stockle). Cullen helped change the view of African Americans in the poem when he clearly states, “White stars is no less lovely being dark,/ And there are buds that cannot bloom at all/ In light, but crumple, piteous, and fall;” (10-12). The Harlem Renaissance was a movement that fought for equality among races. Through the poem Cullen showed how what the whites minimized and hated, could be the very thing to make certain flowers blossom, when light could cause certain flowers to die. The poem used imagery and symbolism to express the truth about the black society and it provided a voice that demanded equality. Going back to slavery African American did all the work; however, they did not receive a fair profit, and Cullen understood that even now African Americans do not receive what is due to them by saying, “We shall not always plant while others reap” (1). Cullen is making a declaration that the injustice of African Americans will come to a stop. That African Americans will start reaping the harvest that is due