Harlem Renaissance Poets - Essay Example

It was also called “New Negro Movement” and it took place in the neighbor\r hood of Harlem near New York City. Though the Harlem renaissance occurred in American country, many black writers who speak French were influenced by this period. In the Harlem renaissance the concept of double consciousness were highlighted by writers like Langston Hughes. This double consciousness contemplates on his personality where what he is like and what the white men wants him to be. There is also a message to African Americans not to imitate white American writes and create a space of their own in poetry world.

Role and importance of Poet The role and importance of Poet’s during the era of renaissance was to make a ripple in the cultural world. This was the moment which Black writers could utilize to awaken the artistic skills and talent hidden in them. The black writers of Harlem renaissance period also had the duty to contribute to the well being of poor Black Americans. They also had the duty to awaken the Africans who had the ability to contemplate and compile poems as a part of evolution of black people’s cultural revolution.

The most prominent poet of this time was Langston Hughes. As per (Stanaway,2010)“Without blatantly mentioning double consciousness, Hughes still creates a confused duality, which is clear is what he himself was dealing with”. Two poems chosen a) Weary Blues by Langston Hughes Langston Hughes is one of the prominent poets in the age of Harlem Renaissance. He promoted black folks through his exquisite poems. According to (Shaduri,2010) “Langston Hughes, one of the central figures of Harlem Renaissance, tries to remain faithful to Afro-American roots in his creations”.

He had formed an identity of himself with the help of his poems. His poems emphasized on the African American culture and how it assimilated with the melting pot culture of America. However his main aim was to mold the African American writers in such a way that they do not turn out be a imitation of White American poets. In weary blue he is mentioning about the double identity or double consciousness he had to form to get acceptance among White Americans. In this poem he pinpoints he is black and the blues of being black.

He writes in the poem that he doesn’t have anybody in this world except for himself. b) A Certain man by Jean Toomer Jean Toomer is one of the popular poets of Harlem Renaissance era and he has written ample poems which talks about his writing talents. One of his poems is “A Certain Man” which portrays the element of double consciousness. Here in the poem the poet explains a man wants to be a prince and a saint at same time. He is right in his poem, as human being many a times express a double conscience attitude.

Here a person is not asking or urging for one personality but a dual consciousness.Toomer writes in the poem that both the identities need consciousness and it is the double consciousness in men which is portrayed here. Primary theme in the poem The primary theme in these two poems is double consciousness where a person is urging to have double identities sometimes for his own happiness, otherwise due to pressure from outside world. Langston Hughes- He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool.

Sweet Blues! Coming from a black man's soul. “Double consciousness is a term that comes from the pen of W.E.B. dubois which was made popular in his books the soul of black folk”. Jean Toomer - A certain man wishes to be a prince,Of this earth; he also wants to beA saint and master of the being-world. My own poem Me and Myself The world is so blooming and hearty But my life is gloomy and sad What I wish for is being a nice human What my heart do is wander in evil thoughts I got myself with me two faces One of the evil and other of a wicked man I