African American poets began to receive an increased amount of popularity during the Harlem Renaissance. “The Harlem Renaissance (c. 1918–1935) was a blossoming of African American creative arts associated with the larger New Negro movement, a multifaceted phenomenon that helped set the directions African American writers and artists would pursue throughout the twentieth century.” (Darity, 1) This movement was marked by the migration of African Americans to the north. Harlem was the center of this wave but certainly not the only location in which blacks had begun to rise. “Many writers refer to the Harlem Renaissance era as the “Negro
Renaissance” or the “New Negro Renaissance.” They contend that the terminology
is more historically accurate because the term “Harlem Renaissance” is limited
to a specific place and literary artists from Harlem”(Williams, 2) The Harlem Renaissance brought forth many talented black poets that have left an impression on poetry and literature to date. "These were decades of rapid progress in dance, theatre, and visual arts; however, it was the literary activities in Harlem, centered around literature, scholarship and criticism, that were mainly responsible for bringing about a renaissance."( Williams, 2) Poetry was a literary realm in which blacks could express the experience of being African American. Poetry was used as a podium to discuss love, relationships, social issues, politics, and the racial disparities in America and in other parts of the world. Many of the poets focus on race and the impact discrimination has on black lives.