Influential women

The Harlem Renaissance is often thought of as a literary movement in Harlem, but it was much more. It was an uplifting period that gave Blacks a sense of pride, self-worth, and new found spirit of hope; through literature, music, and theatrical performances. There were several front-runners of the period some well-known and a few lesser known. People often think of Langston Hughes, Marcus Garvey, and Duke Ellington, but the women of the movement are frequently forgotten. Women such as Zora Neal Hurston, Bessie Smith and Gwendolyn Bennett are a few notable women in this period.
Zora Neal Hurston, an anthropologist and folklorist during the Harlem Renaissance, was an influential figure of this era. She published novels, short stories, and plays during this period. One of her most popular works was the novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God” which is a part of many American high school curriculums to this day. Bessie Smith, dubbed the “queen of blues”, by Columbia records for her 160 recordings for Columbia. Many credit Bessie with being the best females blues singer of the 1920’s and 1930’s, often working with notable musicians of this era such as Louis Armstrong. Also among these influential women was author and poet, Gwendolyn Bennett. Bennett’s poetry often reflected those works of the Harlem Renaissance. She focused on issues such as African heritage, racial pride, and recognizing the roots of African song and dance. She also wrote a column in the popular paper “Opportunity”, which was used to spread the word of the Harlem Renaissance and network with other poets. Through her networking she established a support group for poets during this era, Langston Hughes, Rudolph Fisher, and earlier mentioned Zora Neal Hurston were some of literary figure in this support group