If you’re an American, the phrase “land of opportunity” is very familiar, and depending on how patriotic you are it may be a phrase that’s close to your heart. First used during the western expansion, the Homestead Act offered people of all races the opportunity to move west and claim government land for cheap to grow crops, raise cattle and make a profit. The phrase was later used by millions of immigrants who left their home countries, where they were living in poverty with no chance of social mobility. Most immigrants came on boats to Randell’s island looking for a chance to succeed in the “land of opportunity”. After analyzing the historical editorial published by the National Urban League, “Opportunity”, I was able to gather evidence that suggests Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance was a “land of opportunity” for African Americans looking to achieve the American dream. The evidence will show despite the racial injustice and systematic oppression that created mighty barriers for African Americans during the Harlem Renaissance, Harlem served as an epicenter for African American productivity and creativity.

The struggle, for now, the freed black man is best explained in this quote from the Cleveland Conference section of the January issue of the Opportunity Magazine. James Weldon Johnson, the executive secretary of the NAACP made the observation, “Colored people of the United States must make themselves fit for all the common rights of American citizenship. They must be economically fit, educationally fit, and morally fit, and no race can ever become great which is not strong physically. On the other hand, American Negroes must find a way to compel a recognition of their fitness when they are fit” (Opportunity 17). In other words, the Black people of America understood they were perceived as the inferior race because they were descendants of slaves even when they have emancipated racially motivated propaganda, such as the coon and Sambo art, snared their image. African Americans knew that to be fully recognized as citizens, thus granting them their civil political, and social rights, they had to first distinguish themselves as a functioning collective, who not only contributes to the growth of the national economy but aids in the development of what it means to be an American. We know today that Black people have always been a creative force to be reckoned with, but in Harlem during the 1920s great intellectuals and authors such as W. E. B Du Bois and Charles S. Johnson saw an opportunity for progress through showcasing black creatives and intellectuals.

Magazines such as Survey Graphic and Opportunity gave a voice to African American culture and showcase the achievements of Black people were obtaining. Both publications were written in Harlem and many of the earlier copies displayed work from Harlem residents, like Countee P. Cullen, a Kentucky born African- American who came to Harlem for the opportunity to freely express himself through his poetry. African Americans ended up in northern cities due to the great migration but creatives like Cullen chose Harlem because it had an atmosphere of inspiration. Many of Countee P. Cullen’s we’re featured in both magazines to serve as inspiration for future writers and an example is seen below.

Political activism, self-discovery, and culture were a few of the factors that led prominent black leaders to make Harlem their home During the 1920s, Harlem experienced a boom in black excellence. In the Opportunity, many of the earlier copies had a section entitled “Social Progress” in which informed black readers were informed of the social programs that were being put in place for the area like education and law. This section of the magazine also informed the reader of the sectors of business and fields in which blacks were making a name for themselves and honoring the trailblazers for the community at the time. This section was critical to knowing what Harlem was like during the Harlem Renaissance because the passages gave an account of social opportunities that happen for that month. An example is found in the February edition. It states, “California colored realty and development Association composed of 35 real estate men and nonprofit corporate movement has been organized for the encouragement direction supervision and protection of Negro colonies…” (opportunity 61). An example of the publication recognizing black excellence is found in the following passage, “Adelbert Roberts, elected from Chicago the first Negro to sit in the Illinois Senate, was born in Michigan Mr. Roberts is a graduate of the North-Western University law school…” (opportunity 62). These short excerpts served as a written record for the achievements of African Americans. I would like to believe some of the readers may have even read the “social progress” section and been inspired to go to continue their education or decided to get into Real Estate business because they saw the opportunity to chase their dreams.

In my opinion, Harlem was a “land of opportunity” for a community of people who were opposed, targeted, and torn down by their own government. Harlem offered opportunities when the rest of the country offered only obstacles. Harlem was full of culture and inspiration and today if you know where to look, we can still find the spirit of opportunity.