What is a summary of the Harlem Renaissance?

The Harlem Renaissance refers to the cultural, artistic and social expression that defined the New York neighborhood of Harlem between World War I and the 1930s. Throughout the Harlem Renaissance, writers and other artists came to Harlem for the opportunity to have a blank slate to express their creativity.

Harlem was considered a cultural center, particularly among those who relocated to the area from the South, which was subject to a repressive caste system. As a result, great artists like Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Claude McKay and Zora Neale Hurston were able to flourish and become cultural icons for decades to follow.