length: 826 words 2.4 double spaced pages rating: red free cultural developments do reflect american society as much as government policies or maybe more. Much of the literature, art, and music emerging during the first half of the twentieth century came from african americans, but people of all races and cultures were involved. The harlem renaissance was a movement that gave black people a cultural uniqueness though literature and art. Most of the literature focused on realistically portraying black life, life in the ghetto, and other black issues.

Most of his writings were of the realities of black life, racism, ghetto and slum life, no jobs for black man and much more. Many of the painters used african subjects and designs in their paintings, such as palmer hayden. American society is reflected greatly in all the forms of art in the harlem renaissance. Also emerging at the same time as the renaissance was a new music form called jazz.

Jazz groups usually were made up of several trumpets, saxophones, some string instruments, piano, and drums. At this time whites were very interested in the exoticness of the black race, and jazz was a new exotic form of music that many whites liked. It was different then most other music of the time because of its fast paced rhythm, and swinging beat. Jazz reflects society by adding to the growing cultural uniqueness of black people emerging. Louis armstrong and joe king oliver were among the most famous to emerge from this style of music.

Another art movement that reflected society from 1908 though the early 1920’s, though briefly touched on in class, was ashcan school of arts. Paintings were usually of the slums and ghettos, or portraying some form of poverty of the city life. This form of art was based on reflecting societies poverty and urban life by putting them into paintings, and making something beautiful out of something ugly. It showed middle and upper class people what life actually was like for people in the slums. His novels usually reflected society through the troubles and problems of the working class. In the grapes of wrath, is about a family traveling to california, and becoming migrant laborers. The book reflects on the homelessness in american society, and the struggle people had to keep work and support families.

I think the impact of world war i and ii both hindered political and social justice in some ways, and enhanced it in others. People campaigning for women’s suffrage became devoted patriots and organizers of women in support of the war effort. Some women served in europe in world war i nursing wounded, providing food and other supplies, as telephone operators, entertaining troops, and as journalists. Women's contributions to the war effort enhanced their demands for the suffrage, and president woodrow wilson was forced to support them. This enhanced women’s equality and is an enhancement in women’s social and political justice. They don’t have to just serve as nurses now they can do all kinds of jobs, same as the men. They are now becoming pilots, mechanics, and engineers, operate machinery, and other jobs that are usually done by males.

The sedition act prohibited assembly’s that oppose government actions and made it illegal for anyone to print, speak, or publish any false, horrendous, and hateful articles against the government, or any of it’s programs. First they tell you that you have freedom to say or write whatever you please, freedom of speech. Then they come back and tell you, yeah you can say what you want, as long as it isn’t bad about us. Well that isn’t freedom of speech then, so they hindered, or took away from the political and social justice of what there once was on freedom of speech. The espionage act was passed in 1917 and made it illegal to interfere with recruiting troops or to tell other country’s information dealing with national defense.

21 feb 2016 throughout the history of african americans, there have been important historical figures as well as times. Revered and inspirational leaders and eras like, martin luther king and the civil rights movement, nat turner and the slave revolt, or huey newton and the black panther party. One such period that will always remain a significant part of black art and culture is the harlem renaissance. Furthermore, the harlem renaissance forever left a mark on the evolution of the black culture. The period has been thought of as one of african americans greatest times in writing. After war world i in 1918, african americans were faced with one of the lowest points in history since the end of slavery.