The Harlem Renaissance

What is a Renaissance?  Blossoming of culture  Usually an accumulation of previous artistic movements; thus, a rebirth of those movements  Affects areas of arts, sports, science, literature, politics

Characteristics of the Harlem Renaissance  Cultural Movement that celebrated African Americans through novels, poetry, paintings, sculpture, and music  When & Where: Harlem, mostly during the 1920s

Why Harlem? Although many northern cities were a destination for blacks during this time (The Great Migration) Although many northern cities were a destination for blacks during this time (The Great Migration) Harlem became a hub for artists Harlem became a hub for artists Harlem was initially designed to house affluent white Americans-but when it became clear that the area was seriously overbuilt, many black Americans took the opportunity to live in this superior area Harlem was initially designed to house affluent white Americans-but when it became clear that the area was seriously overbuilt, many black Americans took the opportunity to live in this superior area This high quality environment was open to all classes This high quality environment was open to all classes

Influences on Harlem Renaissance Influences on Harlem Renaissance  The Great Migration occurred  : influx of black population into Harlem from the south and West Indies  Increasing confidence due to involvement of the NAACP, National Urban League, and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History

Influences of the Harlem Renaissance  Death of Booker T. Washington in 1915 promoted survival through compromise compromise little change in race relations and the relations and the economic status of economic status of black people black people

Themes of the Harlem Renaissance  : “ racial affirmation ”  : “ radical racial protest ”

Important Literary Figures  Federal Writer ’ s Project: ~Margaret Walker ~Margaret Walker ~Ralph Ellison ~Zora Neale Hurston  James Weldon Johnson  Countee Cullen  Langston Hughes

The Apollo Theater: One Showcase of African American Talent  Located in Harlem  Showcase of talent

The Lafayette Theater  Home to Orson Wells production of the “ Voodoo Macbeth ”  Part of Federal Theaters Project  African American Actors and Actresses

Jazz Music  Out of the Harlem Renaissance grew the popularity of jazz music  Harlem Rent parties: used to raise rent money ~featured jazz artists as entertainment  Jazz greats such as Duke Ellington, got their start in these rent parties

Despite all of the advancements… Despite all of the advancements…  Racism was a continuing problem ~Theme continued throughout literature and music  Patronizing of black artists

But it was only the Beginning…  allowed greater exposure of black culture and artistic ability  Further increased artistic and political confidence

Sources  All photographs are from the American Memory Collection of the Library of Congress memory.loc.gov  “ Renaissance and Radicalisim: ” Black Writers of America. Richard Barksdale and Kenneth Kinnamon, eds. New Jersey: Prentice Hall,