Poetrys Influences on the Harlem Renaissance Essay Example for Free

Poetrys Influences on the Harlem Renaissance Essay Racial equality has been the topic of many works for centuries. Many of those works weren’t written by those actually affected by inequality. During the 1920’s African Americans began to express their opinions on the issue more frequently through the arts. Poetry was among the most prominent forms of art used for spreading equality and justice. Poets like Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Claude McKay wrote many poems that spoke on equality in society. African Americans felt betrayed after the civil war. They had given their lives and after the war nothing had changed (Cartwright, â€Å"The Harlem Renaissance†). They were still not treated equal and didn’t get paid as much as any other worker. During the 1920’s they started a cultural and racial movement in Harlem, New York called the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance was a time of growth of African Americans during the 1920’s. During this time ideas on equality and freedom spread through the African American community like wild fire. African Americans were expressing their emotions about racial equality in many different ways (Rau 167). Some chose poetry some chose painting or jazz. They used these arts to highlight the injustices they saw in their everyday lives. 1. Langston Hughes Langston Hughes is one the most well know poets of the Harlem Renaissance. Hughes was born in 1902 in Joplin, Missouri (Rampersad, â€Å"Hughes’s Life and Career†). His beginnings were more humble than most. At a very young age Langston’s Hughes parents divorced. After the divorce Hughes moved to Lincoln with his grandmother. This is where he began to write poetry (The Academy of American poets, â€Å"Langston Hughes†). Hughes ideals were closely based around his grandfather, who was a militant abolitionist (Rampersad, â€Å"Hughes’s Life and Career†) His poetry was influenced by many poets who shared his colorful writing style (The Academy of American poets, â€Å"Langston Hughes†). Hughes lived his life as he wrote, with passion. After high school Hughes spent a year in Mexico with his father who disliked his passion for writing and urged him to stop. At that time Hughes was beginning to get published in a number of places like magazines and children’s book. During this time he was noticed but W. E. B Dubois. Upon Hughes return to America he enrolled in Colombia University in New York. Hughes did not like the atmosphere at Colombia so after a year he left. After Columbia he moved to New York and began work on a freighter. This job took him to many places. He traveled to the coast of Africa, Spain, and Paris. ( Rampersad, â€Å"Hughes Life and Career†)He ended up staying in Paris for a couple of months this is where he began practicing a new style of poetry there. Hughes writing style was a lot different from the others. Throughout his life time Hughes wrote many poems that showed common experiences that all African Americans shared. Hughes never discussed the differences between his life and the lives of other Africans Americans. His poetry always showed the negative and positive sides of the African American experience. Hughes may have seen both sides of African Americans but when it came to issues between African Americans and Caucasians he had strong opinions. He (Rampersad, â€Å"Hughes’s Life and Career†) wrote many poems that touched on the controversial topics of that time. In poems like I, Too and The nergo speaks rivers Hughes talked about the struggles that African Americans went through. (Poetry Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, â€Å"Langston Hughes†). Hughes used his dislike for Caucasians often in his poetry. 2. Countee Cullen Countee Cullen might not have reached the fame that Langston Hughes has over the years but his poetry was just as influential. Countee Cullen was born in May 30, 1903 in New York when his grandmother died in 1918 Cullen was put under the custody of Reverend Fredrick A. Cullen. Cullen’s connection to the Salem Methodist Episcopal church through Reverend Cullen placed him in the center of black politics and culture at the age of 15. This gave him a more unconventional education. Instead of learning regular writing and math like other children his age he was taught about black ideals. Most of his education was provided by completely white influences. This gave him a well rounded look at racism. (Poetry Foundation, â€Å"Countee Cullen†). This was often shown in his writing. Cullen’s writing technique would never directly attack Caucasians like other poets during the Harlem renaissance. He was a new voice for the African Americans, one that was actually listened too Cullen graduated from New York University in 1925 as Phi Beta Kappa. At that time he was already writing some of the acclaimed poems published in books by Harper and Brothers: Color (1925), Copper Sun (1927). He won first prize in the Witter Bynner Contest in 1925. Graduating with a Harvard University M. A. egree in 1926, the poet traveled to France as a Guggenheim Fellow(A grant). Upon his return in 1928, he married Yolanda Du Bois, daughter of W. E. B. Du Bois. She divorced him two years later, saying that he told her he was sexually attracted to men. From 1934 on, Cullen taught English and French at the Frederick Douglas Junior High School, though he declined a Creative Literature invitation from Fisk University in Nashville. In 1940 he married an old friend, Ida Mae Roberson. (The Harvard Square Library, â€Å"Countee Cullen† He died in 1946 of gastrointestinal disorder Cullen’s upbringing helped his poetry reach both African American and Caucasian audiences. Cullen was able to do something most African American poets in the Harlem renaissance couldn’t and that was reaching both sides. Cullen was against the way that African Americans were treated but he also understood not all Caucasians had the same ideals. He was brought up with Caucasians in his life which causes him to show a less offensive type of poetry. Cullen’s poetry often presented the sad side of an African Americans life (Poetry Foundation, â€Å"Countee Cullen†). The poem The Little Brown Boy tells of the death of a young black boy (Nelson and Smethurst, â€Å"Countee Cullen poems†). This shows the method of persuasion he used. Countee’s poetry’s influence reached many and his voice spread far. 3. Claude McKay In 1889 Claude McKay was born in sunny vile, Jamaica to peasant farmers. His lower class up bringing taught him how to love himself and have pride in his African heritage. Similar to Cullen, McKay was unconventionally taught as well. McKay was home schooled by his older brother and neighbors. He studied romantics and many other European based things. In adult hood he moved to Kingston which would be the first time that he had actually experienced racism he was immediately disgusted with the way that African Americans were treated and returned home disgusted. Once he returned to sunny vile he published his first verse of poetry. (Academy of American Poets, â€Å"Claude McKay†) After hearing about Booker T. Washington’s Tuskegee institute he decided to move to Alabama and enroll. There he sees American racism for the first time. McKay took a lot of his influence for his writing from similar poets to Langston (University of Illinois, â€Å"Claude McKay’s Life†). As early as 1912 he had published his first volume of verse, Songs of Jamaica, which had been widely praised and had won a medal for poetry. McKay slowly decided not to return to Jamaica and stayed in America. In 1914 he left college and began work menial jobs typical of the African American in the Northern cities of America at that time. At different periods he worked as wheelwright, porter, dishwasher, waiter, and longshoreman. McKay didn’t take his jobs very seriously they were just a matter of earning enough cash to quit for a while and write. McKay’s interest in politics led him to the socialist like many other artist. He was associate editor of The Liberator, a socialist U. S. journal of art and literature. In 1923-24mckay went to Moscow, Russia to be a part of the Bolshevik Revolution. As a African American, McKay was used to show the soviets commitment to racial equality, and he was treated like royalty, being lavishly entertained and exhibited on platforms with the most famous revolutionary leaders. But McKay was skeptical of all this, though he had sympathy for the lives lost in to the Revolution. Claude traveled the world trying to find a peaceful place to write. He went to Morocco and France. In 1928 he published his famous novel, Home to Harlem, which was a national best-seller in the U. S. and was instantly a literary sensation. ( Though McKay reached great success in his life he died impoverished and unappreciated. Claude McKay’s experience with the racism in Alabama was the basis for a lot of his writing. McKay more geared towards the empowerment of blacks and less toward equality. McKay wanted to show that African Americans weren’t just equal but they were better. A lot of his poetry was written to show how much power African Americans had. (Academy of American Poets, â€Å"Claude McKay†) in the poem â€Å"If We Must Die† McKay writes about how African Americans must fight as hard as they can even if the end result is death. This poem says a lot about McKay’s style of writing. In the years after the Harlem renaissance African Americans expressed themselves more often than ever before. The Harlem renaissances effect on African Americans was obvious. Free ideas were flowing and battles were being fought for equal rights. In the thirties no one had much money so African Americans had even less opportunities for work. Each of these poets had a different style and finesse but there messages were all the same. They all grew up as African Americans and they all experienced racism in some way shape or form. They all took those situations and used them to empower those around them. Claude McKay, Countee Cullen, and Langston Hughes might have all had different writing styles but they all played a major role in the growth of African Americans in the United States of America.

The Origin of Fencing, Rowing, Tennis, Cock-fighting, Swimming, Golf, Badminton, Boxing and Bullfighting :: Sport Sporting

The Origin of Fencing, Rowing, Tennis, Cock-fighting, Swimming, Golf, Badminton, Boxing and Bullfighting It is thought that the Egyptians began fencing as a sport and this is derived from images on walls and relics from that time. The images show fencers wearing forms of protective clothing, earflaps and having covers on the ends of their swords. It is also thought that they may have been used to let fighters practice their swordsmanship, without any danger of being harmed. Fencing will take place at the Helliniko Olympic Complex However, modern fencing is claimed by the Italians, Spanish and French and it is in the 18th Century the current system of rules, scoring and equipment came into place. The equipment was prescribed as the Foil, a metal mask with eye slits and a protective vest or jacket. Fencing has been included in the Olympic program. Duels were commonly used to settle disputes and its popularity developed in public schools and universities during the nineteenth century. Today fencing is practised throughout the world with three weapons: The foil which was produced for sporting purposes. The epee which was produced for infantry fighting. The sabre which was produced as a cavalry weapon. The women's foil was first contested at the 1924 Games, but it was not until 1996 that women's epee followed. WHO began fencing as a sport? When was women's fencing included in the Olympic program? What equipment is needed? ROWING Rowing began as a utilitarian activity, when it provided the power for transport in industrial towns and warships. By the 18th century there were over 40 000 watermen and frequent contest were common. By the 19th century the standard of rowing was increasing. Professionalism was also increasing and as this did so rowing races attracted an enormous following. However the professionals soon began to coach amateur crews and it is due to this rise in amateurism and the power held by middle class administrators that professionalism declined. The firsts were heavy and wide, with fixed seats and oars rested on

Othello/ Good vs Evil Essay

Life in general is often used as a system of ways to define what kind of person you are by its end. Shakespeare takes that theory into test upon his characters in his work of the famous play Othello. Through the verbal twists and turns along with the addition of color symbolisms, the personalities of Othello, Iago, Desdemona are revealed to their fullest extents, along with their own balance of good and evil within. When this is realized by this famous Shakespearian work, the judgment of good and evil is carried out, and as a result of mass purging of emotions, neither prevails in the resolution. Othello, due to his Moorish nature but at the same time morally white and untainted, can be considered grey with the opening of the play, but possesses the potential to become either the most brilliant white or the darkest black. From the way that he is described by Iago and sometimes Brabantio, he is a dark beast lurking in the shadows, but he is as white as he can be by the Duke. Grey is a color not quite white nor black, hesitation and confusion wavering behind his eyes. This confusion is caused by his naivete at trusting people too easily, and Iago eagerly takes this weakness to his advantage. So that when Iago manipulates Othello, Othello unknowingly gives in to the temptation, even going as far as telling Iago â€Å"I am bound to thee for ever† (III. iii. 242). Othello at this point is completely taken in with Iago’s mind poisoning and willingly submits to him, yielding to his trickeries. Inevitably with a little push from Iago, Othello slowly goes down the path of dark and pure blackness, with murder evident in mind. With Iago’s tampering of his inner moralities, Othello turns black like a speeding snowball, once Iago set him on the right path. Everything else Othello had done the damage himself; Iago only suggested the notion in the most subtle of ways. Thus he sometimes â€Å"breaks out to savage madness† as Iago put it, when being put under such pressure (IV. i. 65). He is so far gone that he even has epileptic fits hearing of Desdemona’s infidelity. Othello turned out to be evil when he became so mad that he extended his hands to Desdemona’s neck and smothered her to death with a pillow. Only after he kills her he realizes too late that Desdemona is innocent from the start, and has been shining ever since, and only the darkness has clouded his vision and perception of her tempting him to kill her. The fact that he has succumbed to that temptation shows how the good in him has lost its battle to the evil corruptions of Iago, even though he made some futile struggles against them. Othello has given in towards evil because of his weakness and his judgment is heightened by his murder of his wife Desdemona. Even though at the end he seems repentant towards the deeds that he has done, he still lost, and decides to end his sufferings by offering his final defeat — his life. Even so, evil has not truly prevailed by the end of the play, and is instead overcome by the good that is the Venetian society. Iago holds one true goal in his plotting — to corrupt Othello so that he will turn against the ones closest to him. But as the play progresses, there also seem to be a power struggle, whereas Iago is jealous of Othello’s position and empowering authority and wants Othello out of the way so that he can assume power. Iago is tired of acting like one â€Å"courteous and knee-crooking knave† like he always appears to be (I. i. 46). He does not the type of servant that is humble and waits for his master like an obedient mule, and only to be tossed out when he is all weathered and old. No, since Iago is unable to choose to be a master, he is the servant that feeds off the fame and â€Å"keep yet their hearts attending on themselves,† still showing his service to his master but instead is more self-preserving with no attachments at all towards the master (I. i. 52). Iago chooses to follow someone who is able to be manipulated, and declares upon the opening of the play that he is no loyal servant to Othello. He puts up a front of honesty and seeming whiteness, but inside he is just as black as he is white on the outside. In this way he goes to battle the good, the whiteness in Othello, and in turn making his defeat beneficial to his evil plans. It is very obvious that his challenge against good is a victory when Desdemona is murdered by Othello, but evil’s victory is short-lived. Almost immediately, Iago’s wife Emilia turns against him and uncovers the blackness that he truly is underneath his false honesty. Ulterior moves exposed, he is hunted down by the officials of Venice after killing Emilia and brought back to be tortured. His plans have failed, lost to the good and foiled by societies’ ironies, betrayed by his wife, after successfully making Othello kill Desdemona for doing the exact same thing. In this way, evil has not prevailed, and goal gone unaccomplished by good’s interruption. Evil may have won Othello and Desdemona’s soul, but in itself evil did not triumph over good, as Iago lost his power and discovered and punished accordingly. All in all, evil and good is expressed as a never-ending fight in Shakespeare’s tragedies. None overcomes the other, ending the play in a stalemate and effectively purges deep emotions within the audience. Also, the inevitable stalemate that leaves both sides wounded stirs some incomprehensible feelings as to why humans even bother fighting at all in the first place. It is not humans’ place to judge, but to act accordingly to the great director that is the world. World puts humans through excruciating hardships in order to define a person’s soul’s worth at the time of death. Life is the judgment for humans, as they, like Othello, contain both black and white and has the potential to turn either way down each individual life’s paths. Evil and Good is recognized as each quality manifests during a person’s lifetime, and only at the moment of death is he able to look back and see what he truly is without hindrance of the other.

An Effective Leader And Early Perspectives - 1036 Words

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