Gender and Racial Identity in the Harlem Renaissance: Analyzing the Intersectionality of Black Women’s Experiences in the Era

The Harlem Renaissance was a time of great cultural and artistic transformation, and black women’s experiences during this period were shaped by both their racial identity and their gender. In Women of the Harlem Renaissance, Marissa Constantinou discusses how the intersectionality of race and gender shaped the work and lives of African American women writers, artists, and activists.

Women like Zora Neale Hurston and Nella Larsen explored the complex dynamics of race and gender in their works, offering a nuanced view of African American womanhood. Hurston’s exploration of selfhood in Their Eyes Were Watching God provides insight into the struggles of women who seek autonomy in a world defined by racial and gender-based oppression. Larsen’s Passing tackles the theme of racial passing, showcasing the psychological toll of trying to navigate between two racial identities.

The intersectionality of race and gender during the Harlem Renaissance revealed the layered complexities that black women faced in both society and within the artistic community. Their voices challenged the notion of singular identity, offering a richer, more multifaceted understanding of the African American experience.