The Harlem Renaissance was a period from 1910-1930 where many African Americans migrated north to cities like New York, Chicago, and Detroit, seeking better lives and opportunities free from racism and lack of economic prospects in the South. This migration led to a flowering of African American art, literature, music, and culture, especially centered in Harlem in New York City. Key figures like Langston Hughes, Louis Armstrong, and W.E.B. Du Bois helped redefine understandings of African American culture and identity, celebrating black culture and experiences and urging pride, with impacts still felt today in the civil rights movement.