Representative Adriano Espaillat Introduces First-Ever Resolution Honoring Harlem Renaissance Movement

NEW YORK, NY -- Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) introduces the first-ever resolution honoring the legacy of the Harlem Renaissance Movement – a defining cultural, social, and political movement in American history.

“Black history is American history – and the contributions of African Americans are reflected throughout our society on a daily basis, not only during the month of February but each and every day,” said Rep. Espaillat. "The Harlem Renaissance is one such example and was a cultural movement that radically redefined the Black experience in New York City and had a resounding affect across the United States -- one that continues to influence artists, writers, and intellectuals who are making incredible impacts on their communities around the world. I am proud to introduce the first-ever congressional resolution honoring the legacy of the Harlem Renaissance Movement – to recognize, promote, and preserve the rich history and cultural impact of the Harlem Renaissance and to ensure Harlem’s legacy is forever remembered and celebrated for generations to come.”

During World War I, industries faced labor shortages and encouraged African Americans to relocate north from Jim Crow south with the hopes of greater economic opportunities, housing, education, and the prospect for a better life. Harlem in New York City was one of the most popular destinations for African American families, a formerly all-white neighborhood that by the 1920s housed some 200,000 – 500,000 African Americans. This considerable population shift resulted in a movement that fostered the growth of African American culture.

The era saw the burgeoning of literary work by and about African Americans, and Harlem’s development as a Black cultural mecca in the early 20th Century and the subsequent social and artistic explosion is considered a golden age in African American culture in literature, politics, fashion, scholarship, music, stage performance and the arts. The movement also laid the groundwork for the civil rights movement and continues to inform the activists of today in calls for reform and to ensure social justice and equal rights.

“Harlem’s development as a Black cultural mecca in the early 20th Century precipitated the golden age in African American culture and its influences are still evident throughout the rich tapestry of American culture. The legacy of the Harlem Renaissance can never be understated and must forever be cherished throughout the history of our nation,” concluded Espaillat.

You can read the full text of the resolution HERE.