The Harlem Renaissance was an intellectual and cultural revival of African American art, literature, music, and dance centered in Harlem, New York, during the 1920s. It was the first time that mainstream publishers and critics took African American literature seriously. Leading figures like Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Claude McKay sought to redefine the Black identity and challenge racial stereotypes through their work. Hughes popularized 'jazz poetry,' which used the rhythms and improvisational feel of jazz music. The movement was about more than just art; it was a sociopolitical 'New Negro' movement that laid the foundation for the later Civil Rights Movement. It demonstrated that art could be a powerful tool for social change and cultural pride, influencing generations of writers and artists around the globe.