Welcome to the New Black Renaissance

“Negro life is seizing upon its first chance for group expression and self-determination.”

- Alain Locke, speaking on Harlem as a united Negro community. The New Negro, 1925

The Harlem Renaissance, also known as the New Negro movement, was an artistic movement that occurred in Harlem, New York during the 1920's. This literary, artistic, and intellectual explosion kindled a new black cultural identity. With the intent to counteract the rise in racism post World War I, black artists, writers, and musicians created their art with flair that challenged stereotypes of African American culture.

Racial consciousness came along with the movement. With the influx of migration to the area, Harlem became the Black Mecca, not only for artists, but for business owners and migrants from the South looking for a change. In Alain Locke’s anthology, The New Negro, Locke compared the “Old Negro” to the “New Negro” by emphasizing assertiveness and self-confidence shown by the race after World War I and the Great Migration.

Race pride was often the topic of the writings of that time.

The plays written rejected the stereotypes of blackface and minstrel-show traditions.

The music, a new way of playing the piano called the Harlem Style Stride, helped blur the caste lines between poor Negros and socially elite Negros, thus making us stronger as a unit.

We rejected the preconceived notions and the stereotypes that the country placed upon our existence. Whether they chose to believe their folly was their choice, what was more important was that we didn’t believe it.

If it wasn’t for the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights movement might not have been as successful or based in the strength of those before them. This racial consciousness helped lay the foundation to those who were destined to change the black condition in America.

Black people were poppin’.

Black people are poppin’.

Welcome to September 6, 2016. The Oprah Winfrey Network airs Queen Sugar, a television series that follows the life of three siblings in New Orleans, Louisiana after their father leaves them a sugar cane farm. It’s filmed on location in NOLA, the cinematics are amazing, and every single episode had a female director. Every. Single. Episode.

Welcome to January 8, 2017. Donald Glover wins Best Actor in a TV Series, Comedy at the 2017 Golden Globes. Said TV series, Atlanta, was created and executive produced by Glover.

Welcome to February 26, 2017. Moonlight wins the 2017 Oscar for Best Picture at the 89^th Academy Awards. Although, in what has been called Envelope-Gate, the award was barely given to the winners.



Welcome to that very same night, when Viola Davis won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Fences, making her the first black actor to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting: winning a competitive Emmy, Tony, and Oscar in acting categories.

Welcome to August 8, 2017. Jordan Peele’s Get Out is named the Most Profitable Film of 2017. A low budget comedy-horror film that explores racism in America, and it has made a 630% return on its investment? Sounds like success.

Welcome to July 21, 2017. The premiere date of Girls Trip, the first film with an all-black creative team in front of and behind the camera to earn $100 million at the box office. It’s also the first time a female African-American writer has ever reached that milestone.

Welcome to the era of Shonda Rhimes. American television producer, screenwriter, and author who is best known as the creator, head writer, executive producer, and showrunner of ABC's TGIT primetime lineup Grey's Anatomy and Scandal.

Welcome to the era of Issa Rae. The actress, writer, producer, and creator of the YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl, and HBO’s newest hit Insecure – who’s dedicated her life to bring us “quality content of color.” Success!

Welcome to the era of Ava DuVernay. Director and screenwriter. First African-American woman to win Best Director at the Sundance Film Festival. First African-American female director to be nominated for a Golden Globe Award. First African-American female director to have a film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture (Selma). First African-American woman to direct a live-action film with a budget exceeding $100 million (A Wrinkle in Time). Black Girl Magic.

Welcome to the era of Black Girl Magic and Black Boy Joy. These two ideals are a necessity, especially now, for children and adults alike. Black Girl Magic, made popular by CaShawn Thompson, is a concept and movement that celebrates “the beauty, power and resilience of black women.” Black Boy Joy is the principle that “Black boys and men, who despite life or its challenges, can still possess the jovial spirit that you identify in carefree Black boys, that enables them to spread infectious joy and happiness through their smile, their outlook, their confidence or simply their presence.” The social constructs of our country haven’t changed, but encouraging ourselves to embrace the happiness and creativity in our lives is just as important now as it was back in the 1920's in Harlem.

History has a way of repeating itself. But this time, I want in.

WELCOME TO THE NEW BLACK RENAISSANCE.