One hundred years ago in time:
In the early 1900's, black characters were usually portrayed by white actors and the performances were often racist and inaccurate to the African American culture. The Harlem Renaissance, however, began to change that. Black actors began to take the roles of black characters, and these characters conveyed complex emotions and accurate depictions of culture. This shattered black stereotypes and opened the door for black characters and actors across the nation. Many of these performances were shown at one of Harlem's most popular locations, the Apollo Theater. One of the most important works during the Harlem Renaissance was the musical Shuffle Along. The musical brought black actors back to Broadway after a time when the prominent black actors of the day had retired. Shuffle Along also featured the first serious African American love story, introducing the song "Love Will Find a Way." This was a major step in the right direction regarding inclusive practices in the theater industry.