The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement during the 1920s that celebrated African American culture, art, and intellectualism. Centered in Harlem, New York City, it marked a flourishing of literature, music, visual arts, and social criticism. Key figures included Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Duke Ellington, who explored themes of racial identity, social justice, and the African American experience. This Renaissance played a pivotal role in reshaping the perception of Black culture in America, fostering pride and challenging stereotypes, and laid the groundwork for future civil rights movements.