Final answer:
The Harlem Renaissance in New York City was a social movement, as it represented an explosion in African American cultural and intellectual life. It transformed American culture with significant contributions from Harlem, marking a golden age for the arts based on the black experience.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Harlem Renaissance in New York City was a social cultural and intellectual explosion of art, music, and writing that became part of mainstream American culture. The movement, which spanned from the 1920s to the 1930s, was keenly visible in Harlem, a neighborhood that became a cultural beacon for African American artists. Through the Great Migration, many African Americans moved from the rural South to the urban North, significantly influencing and transforming American culture, particularly in Harlem. This artistic renaissance was shaped by the black experience and traditions, challenging the racial stereotypes and integrating African American art into the broader American cultural landscape.
Influential figures of this era included writers Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes, as well as musicians like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. Their legacies inspired both racial pride among the African American community and a broader recognition of their cultural contributions. Thus, the Harlem Renaissance is often celebrated for its role in redefining African American identity and its enduring impact on both black culture and the overall trajectory of American arts and letters.