Claude McKay, one of the major figures of the Harlem Renaissance, saw his seminal poetry collection Harlem Shadows published on May 9, 1921. The work vividly portrayed the struggles, beauty, and dignity of Black life in America and the Caribbean. McKay’s poetry, combining traditional forms with radical content, challenged racial prejudice and expressed pride in African heritage. Harlem Shadows was instrumental in validating Black literature within mainstream American arts and inspired a generation of African American writers who followed. Its publication is regarded as one of the cultural sparks that ignited the Harlem Renaissance.
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