Socialism/Communism in Harlem Renaissance Literature
Socialism and communism are not the same thing. We get it. Trust us, we do. But during the Harlem Renaissance, all kinds of political thoughts and philosophies were freely explored.
So, both socialism and communism were favorites of the more politically minded writers of the Harlem Renaissance. Why? Because of their shared commitment to the equal distribution of resources, of course.
It would be missing the point to dissect the lives of the black artists of 1920s-1930s Harlem in order to see whether or not they actually lived the principals of these political philosophies 100%. The real point is that finally (finally), black Americans could actively participate in the creation of their own political system.
And all without fear of retribution or lynching by whites… mostly. Which was a pretty big deal.
Plus, socialism and communism (as well as communism's more American variant, progressivism) were just… in the air back then, you know? You couldn't really avoid 'em. Especially in hip, liberal, equality-minded NYC.
Chew on This:
Like some politics with your poetry? Us too. So we've got a recommendation for you: Langston Hughes's "Harlem (Dream Deferred)." It's a fantastic discussion of the politics of oppression during the Harlem Renaissance, we think.
Prefer your politics in prose form? Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man runs the gamut when it comes to politics and the black American. He is engaged with all of the big philosophies of the era, including socialism and communism.