Reaction Paper on the Harlem Renaissance and African American Vision

This reaction paper delves into the Harlem Renaissance, examining the common goals and visions for success of individuals during this period, particularly in the face of Jim Crow. It explores how African Americans defined their ambitions for family and material success, and whether a sense of community persisted after the Civil War. The paper also analyzes the lessons learned by Janie in Zora Neale Hurston's 'Their Eyes Were Watching God' through her relationships. The author examines the political, cultural, and social dimensions of the era, highlighting the importance of optimism, courage, and active participation in addressing the challenges faced by African Americans. The paper references key scholarly works to support its analysis, offering a comprehensive understanding of the Harlem Renaissance and its impact on African American life and literature.

Harlem Renaissance Reaction Paper
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What did each of the people whose biographies you read above have in common?
Both individuals had a common purpose or objective in the long term as they advocated for the
same changes in the society
Baker (2013) states that both people in the biography had similar interests regarding various
relationships, political and cultural dimension of the African Americans.
Both were active participants in solving issues facing contemporary society.
What kind of vision for success did they have and what do you think allowed them to
succeed in spite of Jim Crow?
The people in those particular biographies had similar leadership vision aspects which helped
them succeed since it forms essential modes of focusing attention on their target and interest
(Dudziak,2011). This vision was rooted in their past in accomplishment of a successful life. This
enables them to address future challenges and deal with modern era realities.
capacity to identify with the individual native in need just as their capacity to work with world
pioneers to shape worldwide strategy on vision misfortune made them especially viable
representatives for debilitated people around the world (Wilson,2010).
Dynamic cooperation was also essential and being keen on the welfare of other minority
gatherings. Conditions in poor and war-attacked countries were of specific concern. Optimism
and courage were acutely felt at an individual dimension on numerous events contributing to
their success.

How did the material you read define the ambitions of African American life?
In terms of family and material success?
After the slave trade era and civil war, African Americans were determined to build their long
lost family members and be together again (Harvey,2012). This material depicted how
determined African Americans. It defines their production ability I industries making profits that
raised their living standards. They also engaged in careers or professional fields successfully.
They practiced in various trade patterns in order to acquire immense wealth. Their level of
material success is measured in the amount of wealth that they were able to accumulate within
the shortest time frame.it is evident that they had a positive attitude, hope and high ambitions for
a successful life.
Was there still a sense of community, or common purpose with other African Americans as
there had been just after the Civil War?
Yes
The African Americans still had a strong sense of cultural values, norms and key standards that
they upheld throughout the civil war. They thus still had a common purpose to improve their
livelihoods. Research indicates that they still had a sense of direction and had not lost hope in
their lives (Smethurst, 2011).
In reading Their Eyes Were Watching God, what was it that struck you as the most
important lesson Janie learned through her relationships with her husbands?

From her marriage to her husband, Logan Killicks, she learned that she couldn't figure out how
to deeply love somebody. After her marriage to Jody Starks, Janie understood that equity is vital
in a marriage status. At the point when Janie wedded Tea Cake, she understood that love could
be found. She discovered that despite the fact that her initial two relational unions neglected to
satisfy her vision of affection, she discovered love with Tea Cake and understood that there is
love.
With Tea Cake, she figures out how to live with her own personal terms and not as per the
desires of other people. She encounters an extraordinary love that does not happen in marriage
and that has nothing to do with status (Roberts, 2013). She is quite indifferent regarding what
others state or thinks about her, for she realizes that she lived well with Tea Cake and will keep
on living great with his memory. She learned that happiness could be eventually achieved with
someone you love.

References
Baker Jr, H. A. (2013). Modernism and the Harlem Renaissance. University of Chicago Press.
Dudziak, M. L. (2011). Cold War civil rights: Race and the image of American democracy (Vol.
73). Princeton University Press.
Harvey, P. (2012). Freedom's coming: Religious culture and the shaping of the South from the
Civil War through the civil rights era. UNC Press Books.
Roberts, B. R. (2013). Archipelagic Diaspora, Geographical Form, and Hurston's Their Eyes
Were Watching God. American Literature, 85(1), 121-149.
Smethurst, J. (2011). The African American Roots of Modernism: From Reconstruction to the
Harlem Renaissance. UNC Press Books.
Wilson, J. F. (2010). Bulldaggers, pansies, and chocolate babies: performance, race, and
sexuality in the Harlem Renaissance. University of Michigan Press.