The Twenties The Harlem Renaissance

“Black Consciousness” After WWI, many blacks migrate from rural South to urban North Mass migration contributed to music & literature “Harlem Renaissance” made lasting impact on culture that ALL Americans share Migration took place because blacks dreamed of a better future/life North offered: – Economic opportunity, social advancement, greater political rights Looked at South as a dead end – Low-paying rural jobs, barred from decent schools, faced oppression, threat of lynching

Northern Chances & Challenges Chances Most blacks found better life in North Wages in plants better than sharecropper earnings – Detroit (Auto) – Pittsburgh (Steel) New York, Chicago, Pittsburgh, & Cleveland offered political voice Black middle & upper class in these cities Blacks served as role models in many professions: – Ministers – Physicians – Lawyers – Teachers – Journalists Challenges Still faced racism & oppression in N Forced to live in worst housing available Worked in lowest paying jobs Violence was still a threat * Blacks starting speaking up & demanding a real solution to the country’s racial problems

Harlem Became focal point for black aspirations 200,000 blacks settled in Harlem Southern migrants mixed with Caribbean immigrants This mixing created a dynamic set of new cultures, traditions, and ideas

Marcus Garvey -Most prominent African American to emerge in 1920s -Born in Jamaica, immigrated to Harlem in Promoted idea of universal black nationalism -Organized “Back to Africa” movement -Did not call for unification, instead he advocated separation of races -Started Universal Negro Improvement Association -2.5 million members & sympathizers by mid-1920s -Advocated black pride & black support of black-run businesses -This advocacy won much support -Movement slowed to halt in second half of 20s -Fed govt. sent him to prison for fraud & deported him back to Jamaica -Garvey’s ideas survived long after movement ended -Many more current movements were inspired by Garvey’s ideas -Nation of Islam -Black Power -Black Pride -Self-Reliance -Cultural ties to Africa -He taught blacks to admire and praise black things & people

Jazz Age African Americans gave birth to jazz music Jazz: Music based on improvisation Musicians recombine different forms of music, including African American blues & ragtime with European-based popular music Emerged in the South – mainly in New Orleans Early artists gained popularity playing Storyville – Section of New Orleans known for its night life Jazz spread to North with migration of blacks

Louis Armstrong -Trumpet Player -Unofficial Ambassador of Jazz -Played in King Oliver’s Band in New Orleans & Chicago -Played in Fletcher Henderson’s orchestra in New York -After playing in these groups, he started to organize his own group -Playing ability & improvisational skills made him a legend -He influenced the development of jazz -After Armstrong, all jazz bands started to feature soloists -Idea of soloists helped influence vocal soloists

Bessie Smith, Vocal Soloist “The Empress of the Blues

Jazz Contd. Jazz became symbol of the Roaring Twenties Jazz part of prohibition era – Was played in speakeasies & night clubs all over New York Chicago St. Louis Los Angeles – Featured music of the Cotton Club, in Harlem Phonograph records & radio spread influence across America By end of decade, jazz’s popularity had spread to Europe as well

More Jazz More than just music Demonstrated the depth & richness of black culture Gerald Early, scholar of English & Africa American studies predicts: – “America will best be remembered for three great contributions – the Constitution, baseball, and jazz – All 3 enrich lives, open new windows, lift human spirit Jazz shows that U.S. is land of shared traditions & cultures People can come together & create something greater than their part

All That Jazz Races become quickly bridged due to jazz Bix Beiderbeck - 1 st white trumpeter to contribute Influenced white songwriters & composers – Cole Porter – Irving Berlin – George Gershwin Duke Ellington – Black band leader – “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing” – Title makes a statement about how jazz changed popular music

Harlem Renaissance Jazz & Blues were expressions of black experience – Jazz – celebrated joy of black experience – Blues – exhibited pain of black experience Novelists, poets, & artists celebrated culture & explored question of race in America Flowering black culture became known as the Harlem Renaissance Harlem Renaissance helped give validity to race relations in U.S.

African American Literature Term “New Negro” introduced – Suggested radical break with the past – No longer endure old ways of exploitation & discrimination This idea really took hold in Harlem – Novelists, essayists, poets, & journalists attracted to the movement Writers explored joys & pains of being black in U.S. Works left literary legacy that spoke to all Americans

Jean Toomer -Cane (1923) set tone for Harlem Renaissance -Collection of short stories, poems, & sketches -Showed black life & culture in full richness -Not a blueprint for political future -More of a plea to remember & preserve the past

Other African American Writers Claude McKay (novels & poems) – Most militant of black writers – Showed ordinary blacks struggling for dignity & advancement in face of discrimination & economic hardships – Represented political & ideological left wing of Harlem Renaissance Langston Hughes – Most powerful literary voice of his time – Focused on celebration of black culture & life – Captured remarkable diversity of everyday black life

African American Authors Contd. Zora Neale Hurston – Traveled rural back roads of FL collecting folk tales – Put tales into Mules and Men – Also wrote about the future – Their Eyes Were Watching God expressed new desire for independence felt by many women…..both black and white

Who Were These Authors? Claude McKay Langston Hughes Zora Neal Hurston

Harlem Renaissance Lasting Impact Gave voice to African American culture Altered how whites viewed black culture Altered how blacks viewed themselves Ended with national financial collapse that ended nation’s decade of prosperity Sense of group identity & solidarity gave strength to black culture that would be used later in the civil rights movement