During the Harlem Renaissance, racism was a huge problem. It effected every African American some way or another, and usually it effected them very early in life.
Racism Effects at an Early Age.
One common theme of African American literature is "racism influences at an early age." This is displayed well by Langston Hughes in his poem, "Mother to Son". It's a poem about a mother talking to her son and telling him life is not easy. The son has already discovered the impact of racism on his life as a young, and it will shape how he is for the rest of it. Young African Americans feel the impact of racism right away, and they knew that that had to keep climbing and never give up the hope of someday being equal.
Another example of this theme occurs in "The Great Debaters". Racism is in full effect right during this time period. Wiley College was a segregated black college. James Farmer, a young teenager, and his debate team were influenced by racism. They were influenced to speak of these injustices, and were determined to debate at Harvard. Along their journey they witnessed a lynching and almost got caught by the mob. They will never forget that night and it will influence what they do for the rest of their lives. During their debate at Harvard, their young determined voices were heard.
Another example of this theme occurs in "The Great Debaters". Racism is in full effect right during this time period. Wiley College was a segregated black college. James Farmer, a young teenager, and his debate team were influenced by racism. They were influenced to speak of these injustices, and were determined to debate at Harvard. Along their journey they witnessed a lynching and almost got caught by the mob. They will never forget that night and it will influence what they do for the rest of their lives. During their debate at Harvard, their young determined voices were heard.
"From Dust Tracks on a Road" provides another example of how racism influences at an early age. During the time period Zora Hurston wrote this text, white people would come and visit the colored school. It just so happened that one day, two white ladies came to Zora's school and were very impressed by her reading. The ladies asked Zora to come read to them at the Park House hotel. After Zora read to them, the ladies supplied Zora with all different sorts of books, and sent her more goodies in the mail. The fact that schools were segregated impacted Zora right away as a chile, and she's fortunate enough to have been noticed by these two ladies to display her talent with the rest of the country. Segregated schools left a lot less opportunities for African Americans to get a good education, and not every African American got the opportunities that Zora did.
Read "From Dust Tracks on a Road" here http://www.harpercollins.com/browseinside/index.aspx?isbn13=9780062004833
Read "From Dust Tracks on a Road" here http://www.harpercollins.com/browseinside/index.aspx?isbn13=9780062004833