The influence of the Harlem Renaissance on American literature was significant, as it marked a cultural flourishing of African American artistic expression in the 1920s. Writers like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston explored themes of racial identity and the African American experience, challenging prevailing stereotypes. This movement promoted the richness of African American culture, essentially reshaping the landscape of American literature by introducing new narratives, voices, and styles. The Harlem Renaissance fostered a sense of pride and community, leading to the emergence of a distinctly African American cultural identity that continues to influence literature and arts today.