A New African American Identity: The Harlem Renaissance

The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. showcases the history, art, and culture of African Americans, with a particular focus on the Harlem Renaissance period from the end of World War I to the mid-1930s. This exhibit explores how African Americans during this time created a new identity as free people through cultural expression, featuring works by prominent artists and intellectuals such as Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Aaron Douglas, as well as legendary musicians like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. The Harlem Renaissance was significant in challenging racist stereotypes of the Jim Crow South and inspiring future generations of African American artists and intellectuals, instilling a new spirit of self-determination and pride, a new social consciousness, and a commitment to political activism that laid the foundation for the Civil Rights Movement.