Essay on The Poetry in Harlem Renaissance - 1981 Words

Many assume that Blues and Jazz were the only musical influences that impacted the Harlem Renaissance. Indeed, with the pursuit for heritage and identity, many aspects of African culture influenced Renaissance poetry musically. However, focus also needs to be placed on more controversial topics, such as religion and gender, as poets challenged oppression. When discussing the poetry of the Harlem Renaissance, due to the strength of their relationship, one must look at Blues and Jazz. Many viewed this genre as a voice for the black communities and as â€Å"the New Negro poets expressed a deep pride in being Black† (Smith, 1983, p. 37) it is easy to see how this influenced their poetry. The main theme of Blues were the troubles of life and†¦show more content†¦As a result, the speaker concludes that â€Å"to keep from cryin’/ I opens ma moth an’ laughs† (Ramazani, 1994, pp. 152-3), a juxtaposition of emotions that was common in the Blues genre as t his sense of fracturing was a common shared feeling to many of those in the Black communities, especially those who were forced to be happy simply for others, like children, despite the massive social and economic prejudices they faced. The half rhyme between â€Å"laugh† and â€Å"have† creates a sense of mocking, which many would have felt, especially with the popularity of both Blues and Jazz with the white communities, who couldn’t understand the pain it came from. Perhaps the most popular piece of Blues poetry that incorporates the technical devices of the genre is Hughes’ Weary Blues. The poem highlights how Jazz affected everyday life through its exaggerated musicality. This is created through internal rhymes, alliteration and consonance which creates a similar rhythm to a Blue song. The Blues influence can further be seen by the twelve bar stanzas and repeated use of rhyming couplets which create a musical atmosphere. Hughes often refers to music in his poetry and it seems to pose as a metaphor for feelings that can’t be spoken, and these disenfranchised feelings often dominated Blues songs. It showed where language failed, music could take over. We can see that Hughes used music to inspire a generation and give them aShow MoreRelatedThe Harlem Renaissance Poetry1097 Words   |  4 PagesStarting around 1918, and progressing through the 1920s and 30s, a section of New York City called Harlem began to be the center of a group of talented African American artists, composers, poets, and dancers. 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