<P> Countee Cullen's poem "Heritage" expresses the inner struggle of an African American between his past African heritage and the new Christian culture . A more severe criticism of the Christian religion can be found in Langston Hughes' poem "Merry Christmas", where he exposes the irony of religion as a symbol for good and yet a force for oppression and injustice . </P> <P> A new way of playing the piano called the Harlem Stride style was created during the Harlem Renaissance, and helped blur the lines between the poor African Americans and socially elite African Americans . The traditional jazz band was composed primarily of brass instruments and was considered a symbol of the south, but the piano was considered an instrument of the wealthy . With this instrumental modification to the existing genre, the wealthy African Americans now had more access to jazz music . Its popularity soon spread throughout the country and was consequently at an all - time high . Innovation and liveliness were important characteristics of performers in the beginnings of jazz . Jazz performers and composers at the time such as Eubie Blake, Noble Sissle, Jelly Roll Morton, Luckey Roberts, James P. Johnson, Willie "The Lion" Smith, Fats Waller and Duke Ellington were extremely talented, skillful, competitive and inspirational . They are still considered as having laid great parts of the foundations for future musicians of their genre . Duke Ellington gained popularity during the Harlem Renaissance . According to Charles Garrett, "The resulting portrait of Ellington reveals him to be not only the gifted composer, bandleader, and musician we have come to know, but also an earthly person with basic desires, weaknesses, and eccentricities ." Ellington did not let his popularity get to him . He remained calm and focused on his music . </P> <P> During this period, the musical style of blacks was becoming more and more attractive to whites . White novelists, dramatists and composers started to exploit the musical tendencies and themes of African Americans in their works . Composers used poems written by African - American poets in their songs, and would implement the rhythms, harmonies and melodies of African - American music--such as blues, spirituals, and jazz--into their concert pieces . African Americans began to merge with Whites into the classical world of musical composition . The first African - American male to gain wide recognition as a concert artist in both his region and internationally was Roland Hayes . He trained with Arthur Calhoun in Chattanooga, and at Fisk University in Nashville . Later, he studied with Arthur Hubbard in Boston and with George Henschel and Amanda Ira Aldridge in London, England . He began singing in public as a student, and toured with the Fisk Jubilee Singers in 1911 . </P> <P> During the Harlem Renaissance, the black clothing scene took a dramatic turn from the prim and proper . Many young women preferred - from short skirts and silk stockings to drop - waisted dresses and cloche hats . Woman wore loose - fitted garments and accessorized with long strand pearl bead necklaces, feather boas, and cigarette holders . The fashion of the Harlem Renaissance was used to convey elegance and flamboyancy and needed to be created with the vibrant dance style of the 1920s in mind . Popular by the 1930s was a trendy, egret - trimmed beret . </P>

Which of the following is true of the harlem renaissance