The Harlem Renaissance Zora Neale Hurston and Their Eyes Were Watching God

What was it? An unprecedented period of literary, musical, and artistic production among African Americans that reached its peak in the 1920s and lasted through the early 1930s. Centered in the Harlem section of Manhattan in New York City

Why did it take place? Southern blacks needed to escape the South for many reasons: Poverty Racial violence Lack of freedoms The “Red Summer” of 1919 4 million KKK members Anti-Black riots in 26 cities

A New Identity: “The New Negro” Rejection of beastlike or sentimental stereotypes A collective identity arises Better educational/employment opportunities arise Pride in their race; highlight contributions to American culture Provided entertainment opportunities for the community

Literary Contributors Langston Hughes: Praised blackness, embraced the common man as his subjects, and blended elements of jazz and blues into his writing Arguably the most famous African-American poet of all-time Zora Neale Hurston Literary works reflect a love of black language and manners One of the first writers to present African Americans as complete, multifaceted human beings

Claude McKay -- Used poetry and prose to protest racial injustice. Helped launch the Harlem Renaissance Countee Cullen -- A well-known poet who won many poetry awards after graduating from Harvard. James Weldon Johnson -- Successful Broadway songwriter. Wrote “Lift Every Voice and Sing” became known as the African-America “national anthem.”

The End of an Era Depression of the 1930s brought an end to the Harlem Renaissance Contributors had to find steadier jobs However, the spirit lived on… Gwendolyn Brooks – Pulitzer Prize, 1950 James Baldwin – Essays on racism Toni Morrison – Nobel Peace Prize: Literature Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, Beyoncé and Snoop can all trace success back to the Renaissance

Zora Neale Hurston Lived in Eatonville, Florida, as a child America’s first all-black town Known for her candid portrayal of the struggle and courage of African-Americans in the rural South Refused to honor gender roles in her writing Fell into obscurity during the 1940s Worked as a maid in the 50s Died penniless in 1960 and was buried in an unmarked grave

Their Eyes Were Watching God Story follows Janie Crawford Killicks Starks Woods as she balances love and independence in the backwoods of Florida in the early-mid 1930s Themes: Language Love Community Independence Race/Racism Religion/Spirituality