During the decade between 1920 to 1930 a new thing happened in New York City a.k.a. "the culture capital of the world." More specifically something new began to happen in Harlem,N.Y.--something that would forever enhance the unofficial title of the city.

In the first twenty years of the 20th century a half a million African Americans migrated from the stifling poverty of the rural south to the promising opportunities of the industrial north. A half million of these blacks came to Harlem,N.Y. In Harlem they found freedom. This freedom was the impetus behind an outburst of creativity combined with racial pride and black consciousness. Some people called this phenomenon the birth of the "New Negro." But it was popularly known as "The Harlem Renaissance."

The men and women who made the Harlem Renaissance possible came from across the United States and as far away as the Caribbean Islands. They were Black artist, entertainers, influential thinkers, musicians, writers and white supporters. But the life blood of the Harlem Renaissance were the African American writers. With pen in hand and indigenous cultural insights they were well prepared to articulate the "Negro Experience." Though there were many writers who contributed to the literature of the Harlem Renaissance, the most prominent literary artisans were Langston Huges, Countee Cullen, Claude McKay, Jean Toomer, and Zora Neal Hurston.

What follows is a brief bio of each writer and a sample of his/her work accompanied by graphics and music.