Honoring the legacy of the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural, social, and political movement in American history.
H. Res. 146 is a non-binding House resolution that honors and recognizes the Harlem Renaissance as a pivotal cultural, social, and political movement in American history. The resolution sets out a historical narrative—from The Great Migration and the birth of Harlem as a cultural hub, to the achievements in music, literature, visual arts, and organized labor—that helped redefine Black identity and contributed to civil rights progress. It expresses support for recognizing, promoting, preserving, and celebrating Harlem Renaissance history through interpretive programs, and it urges protections for Harlem’s historic assets and neighborhood character to prevent displacement of low- and moderate-income residents. As a resolution, it does not create new law or require funding, but it signals legislative support for preservation, education, and cultural recognition efforts tied to Harlem’s legacy. Sponsors listed in the text include Rep. Espaillat and several New York colleagues, and the bill has been referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The resolution is primarily commemorative and educational in nature, intended to shape public memory and encourage related programs and preservation efforts.
Key Points
- 1The Harlem Renaissance is recognized as a pivotal moment that redefined Black experience and influenced culture across the United States and the world.
- 2The resolution places the Harlem Renaissance in the broader context of the Great Migration and the search for civil rights, economic opportunity, and social justice.
- 3It calls for efforts to recognize, promote, preserve, and celebrate the Harlem Renaissance and its ongoing influence through contemporary interpretive programs.
- 4It includes a safeguarding provision to protect Harlem’s historic assets and the neighborhood’s cultural identity from encroachment and displacement of low- and moderate-income residents.
- 5The resolution notes the movement’s lasting impact on American art, literature, music, and culture, and frames that legacy as foundational to later civil rights work and social progress.