1. Limited geographical scope: While Renaissance periods in art and literature in the 14th to 17th centuries in Western Europe were characterized by widespread change, the Harlem Renaissance was focused on the African-American community in a concentrated urban area.
2. Duration: Traditional Renaissances span several generations and bring about lasting changes, the Harlem Renaissance was a relatively brief movement that lasted for about two decades.
3. Diversity of perspectives: Unlike the Renaissance in Europe, which produced a more cohesive body of art, the Harlem Renaissance was diverse and produced various styles, genres, and ideas within the African-American community.
4. Response to social and political circumstances: The Harlem Renaissance emerged as a response to the discrimination, segregation, and limited opportunities experienced by African-Americans in the United States during the early 20th century. It was, in part, a cultural and artistic assertion of the African-American identity and a celebration of African-American heritage and culture.
While the Harlem Renaissance did indeed result in a great outpouring of cultural expression and had significant impacts on American society, it may not fit the traditional Eurocentric definition of a "Renaissance" as a widespread, multi-generational cultural and artistic revitalization.