What was it? A cultural movement – The New Negro Movement Social, economical & political empowerment of black Americans.  Redefining black cultural identity  Vigorous expression of creativity  Fostering racial pride

When? Generally accepted timeline: 1919 – Why 1919? – end of world war 1 – the roaring 20s – blossoming of black creativity

Setting the Stage 1.The Great Migration – End of civil war in 1865 & Reconstruction. – Plessy vs. Ferguson Supreme Court case – 1896 racial segregation constitutionally acceptable – Mass migration northwards in the millions Better economic & education opportunities. right to vote less racial injustice/hostility

Setting the Stage 2.Housing in Harlem – Specifically designed as a middle/upper middle white suburb – Overambitious developers overbuilt – Forced to lease and rent apartments to black tenants Philip Payton – helped make it happen – White flight – further reducing the housing prices

Setting the Stage 3.Influential Organizations – The NAACP – The National Urban League – United Negro Improvement Association – Pan-African Movement

Setting the Stage 4.World War 1 – Shortage of labor many European immigrants return to fight decline in influx of new European immigrants – Increased immigration from the South – Migration as well by the West Indians – End of the war fostered awareness of freedoms

Literature The movement was mostly literary. Defining moment for African American literature – Proliferation of young black artists in the literary scene – writers, poets, essayists – NAACP’s “The Crisis” & National Urban League’s “Opportunity” – Mostly in charge of what they produced

Literature (cont.) Major artists – Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, Zora Neale Hurtson, James W. Johnson Varied literary styles – folkloric, jazz & blues Landmark texts – Book of American Negro Poetry - James W. Johnson – Alain Locke’s The New Negro

Music Most influential were jazz & blues Uniquely African American thus a source of pride Opened up job opportunities – The Cotton Club, – Rent parties

Music Jazz – Harlem stride style Stride piano (symbol of wealth) Jazz (brass band symbol of south ‘lowlife”) Key figures: Duke Ellington, Cab Collaway

Music Blues – “Blues” of love and life – Key form - 12 bar blues – Bessie Smith - all time greatest blues singer

Not Just Harlem Harlem – Black Mecca France & other francophone countries – “Negritude” Paris – Focus of African & African American consciousness – Montmartre

Politics Important Debates – Separation (Marcus Garvey) Vs. Integration (W.E.B Dubios) – Technical Education (Booker T. Washington) Vs. “The talented tenth” (W.E.B Dubois) – Differences in artistic vision True personal expression vs. addressing racial injustice & stereotyping

Movement’s Demise & Legacy 1929 Black Friday & The Great Depression 1935 Harlem Riot American cultural landscape changed forever. – lasting impact on art & music – forerunner of the civil rights movement of the 50s & 60s – improved the image of African Americans

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