The Harlem Renaissance Langston Hughes

General Outline Black Harlem The Harlem Renaissance Langston Hughes Styles & Themes Poem Review Discussion

Black Harlem Centre for Blacks fleeing South & Caribbean during Great Migration – ‘City of Refuge’ and Cultural Centre in Black Community Rise of Black Newspapers & Magazines with Community Separated from White Racism Centre for Rhythmic African American Blues & Jazz with Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, etc.

African American Cultural Movement of 1920s – considered part of Modernism but different Inspiration often seen in Jazz & Blues Music Focus on Representing Black Identities & Spirit related to Africa or America and not Politics Mainly White Readers & Patrons – Authentic? Authors: Hughes, W.E.B Du Bois, C. Cullen

Langston Hughes

‘The Bard of Harlem’ Spokesman of the Harlem Renaissance – Representing Ordinary African Americans and becoming ‘the Bard of Harlem’ in the Thirties Childhood in many Homes in South – later to Columbia University writing poetry but racism – many jobs in America & Paris – Harlem Serious Black Artist in Harlem with Patrons

Styles & Themes Realistic & Modern Black Poetry focused on African-American Life in the City & Racism with inspirations in Whitman & Sandburg Black Music – Jazz & Blues – greatly used in Poetry for Structure and Content of Culture For Civil Rights and Civil Consciousness in Poetry, Novels and Plays – Liberty & Justice

Cultural Exchange Read and Listen to Cultural Exchange and think of some of the Following Questions: What is the Perspective of the Narrator? What Makes this a Modernist Poem? How can Racism be seen in the Poem?

Discussion Questions What kind of Cultural Exchange is Referred to and What is meant by a Two-Way Street? How can Racism and Racial Segregation be seen and What are the Conditions Like? What is the Perspective of the Poem and What is the wish of the Narrator? What Makes this a Modernist Poem?

More Information Gates JR, H. L. & McKay, N. Y. (Gen. Eds.); The Norton Anthology of African American Literature (2 nd ed.). Beach, Christopher; The Cambridge Introduction to Twentieth-Century American Poetry. _l/hughes/hughes.htm _l/hughes/hughes.htm

Next Week Presentations on American Modern Poetry (20 th century) including the following types: High Modernism: T. S. Eliot, Ezra Pound Harlem Renaissance: Hughes, Cullen Female Modernism: K. A. Porter, M. Moore Other Modernists: Robertson, Frost