During the Harlem Renaissance, the African American identity was developed in a way that it had not been developed before. However, this was not only significant to Black people. White America also became fascinated by Harlem, and many of its most iconic figures became famous in mainstream culture, including Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie.
The movement was appealing to white America for various reasons. The fact that African Americans had now settled in urban areas of the North gave them an air of sophistication that they were not granted in the South. This was more appealing to white Americans, particularly those who also lived in urban areas in the North. Moreover, the movement was similar to various social and artistic movements that were taking place internationally. This gave the Harlem Renaissance a feeling of modernity and relevance.
Finally, one of the reasons why this movement was accepted was because it was not a radical one. It relied heavily on assimilation, as Black people began to adopt the art, culture, fashion and lifestyle of white Americans. This meant that the movement was able to fit easily on the grand scheme of American society.
