Harlem Renaissance Facts 1920s-mid 1930s Post WWI – Pre Great Depression The Great Migration: African Americans migrated from the south to Harlem in New York City in hopes to pursue their dreams and explore their freedom of expression Music, dance, entertainment, literature, poetry, and art exploded with African American influence that inspires much of the culture today

Walter Dean Myers 1937-2014 Grew up in Harlem Became a writer and was greatly influenced by the Harlem Renaissance writers We will focus on his poem, Harlem

Langston Hughes 1902-1967 Born in Missouri, raised in Mexico until age 13, then moved to Illinois. Began writing poetry in Illinois, attended Columbia University in New York City and finished his education at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania Wrote novels, short stories, plays, and poetry. Different from other notable black poets of the period by refusing to separate his personal experience and the common experience of black America. He told stories in ways that reflected their actual culture, including suffering as well as their love of music, laughter, and language.

Claude McKAy 1889-1948 Born in Jamaica, at age 17 worked as an apprentice to a woodworker in Kingston, came over to America in 1912 to South Carolina, then traveled to Alabama and attended Tuskegee Institute before transferring to Kansas State College. He left school in 1914 and for New York City where he worked various menial jobs. Became a literary voice for social justice during the Harlem Renaissance Encountered racism in New York City which motivated his poetry writing. “America” was published in 1921 In writing “America” McKay expresses hope for a better future and captures the spirit of American optimism.

Billie Holiday (Eleanora Fagan) Born 1915 in Philadelphia- died1959 in New York City Mother had her when she was a teenager, and her father had very little presence in her life. May have suffered from sexual assault in her younger years when she was sent away for schooling. One of the most influential jazz singers of all time. Holiday was discovered at the age of 18 and made the top ten hit list in 1934 with her song “Riffin’ the Scotch.” Songs were very personal and were about the controversy of blacks in America. “God Bless the Child” and “Strange Fruit” became her most famous songs, but also sparked major controversy with record companies wanting to sell songs with heavy content. Considered a huge influence on jazz music today. Diana Ross went on to play her in the autobiographic film Lady Sings the Blues and she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Aaron Douglas 1899-1979 Born in Topeka, Kansas and attended the University of Nebraska, Lincoln where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1922. He taught at Lincoln High School in Kansas for two years before moving to New York City to pursue his artistic dreams. Referred to as “the father of black American art Created powerful images of African-American life and struggles Became a graphic artist, illustrating graphics for many writers Received countless honors, invited to the centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, and earned an honorary doctorate from Fisk University in 1973 seven years after retiring from teaching there.

Lois Mailou Jones 1905-1998 Born in Boston and died in Washington, D.C. she studied at Boston High School of Practical Arts.. The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Designers Art School of Boston Spent summers at Martha’s Vineyard where she painted watercolor sketches. She was recruited in 1928 to teach at Palmer Memorial Institute in North Carolina and then joined Howard University's faculty in 1930. Her work reflected a wide variety from traditional landscape to African-themed abstraction She experienced racial discrimination while she was in Boston and North Carolina, and living through the aftermath of the Harlem Renaissance motivated her depictions of African and African-American themes in her paintings.