1920s-1930s Harlem Renaissance

Overview ren·ais·sance A rebirth or revival L. Armstrong ren·ais·sance A rebirth or revival A revival of intellectual or artistic achievement and vigor http://www.pbs.org/newshour/forum/february98/harlem_2-20.html http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=renaissance The Nicholas Brothers Archibald Motley

Harlem Renaissance Originally called the “New Negro Movement” Fostered a new black cultural identity An outpouring of creative expression that had long been bottled up by the constraints of segregation http://www.levity.com/corduroy/harlem.htm Josephine Baker, 1906-1975

Alain Locke “The Harlem Renaissance “ was a term coined from Alain Locke's The New Negro in 1925 Distinguished as the first African American Rhodes Scholar in 1907, Locke was the philosophical architect—the acknowledged “Dean”—of the Harlem Renaissance.

The Great Migration At the beginning of the period, particularly in the South, racism was rampant, and economic opportunities were scarce. At this time in the South, African Americans were restricted to "colored" facilities clearly inferior to those reserved for white citizens. Lynching was used to instill fear in entire African American communities in the South.

Causes of Migration New farm machinery drove thousands of tenant farmers off the land. Southern states had fewer schools and higher rates of illiteracy than Northern states. Northern states also had more cultural attractions and booming industries.

Harlem, NYC The most vibrant African American community in the nation Teeming with talent and activity A great magnet for the Negro intellectual

Langston Hughes on Harlem “I can never put on paper the thrill of the underground ride to Harlem. I went up the steps and out into the bright September sunlight. Harlem! I stood there, dropped my bags, took a deep breath and felt happy again.” –The Big Sea

“Black Consciousness” Approximately 200,000 blacks migrated to Harlem during the Great Migration A blend of different cultures from the South and Caribbean islands Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican political leader, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, was a proponent of Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism 1887-1940

“Back to Africa” movement Garvey concluded blacks everywhere were exploited Black nationalism would combat exploitation His Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) had some 2.5 million members

Garvey “In a world where black is despised, he taught [African Americans] to admire black things and black people.” UNIA flag also known as the Black Nationalist Flag

W. E. B. DuBois DuBois promoted African American artistic creativity. He insisted that artists. recognize their moral responsibility—”A black artist is first of all a black artist.” He became disillusioned with black artists that were not promoting black causes. 1898-1976

Jazz F. Scott Fitzgerald called the 20s the “Jazz Age” 1901-1971 F. Scott Fitzgerald called the 20s the “Jazz Age” A truly indigenous American music form Based on improvisation Creatively blends African American blues, ragtime, and European-based popular music

Duke Ellington (1899-1974) Duke Ellington became one of the most important early figures in jazz and probably its greatest composer.

Duke Ellington Orchestra

Blues Bessie Smith was an American blues singer. Nicknamed “The Empress of the Blues,” Smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s. 1894-1937

Harlem: The Club Scene

Authors: Countee Cullen Heritage What is Africa to me: Copper sun or scarlet sea, Jungle star or jungle track, Strong bronze men or regal black, Women from whose loins I sprang, When the birds of Eden sang? One three centuries removed From the scenes his father loved, Spicy grove, cinnamon tree, What is Africa to me? http://www.si.umich.edu/CHICO/Harlem/text/cullen_slide.html 1903-1946

Authors: Claude McKay 1889-1948 If We Must Die If we must die, let it not be like hogs Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, Making their mock at our accurséd lot. If we must die, O let us nobly die, So that our precious blood may not be shed In vain; then even the monsters we defy Shall be constrained to honor us though dead! O, kinsmen! we must meet the common foe! Though far outnumbered let us show us brave, And for their thousand blows deal one death-blow! What though before us lies the open grave? Like men we'll face the murderous, cowardly pack, Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back! http://www.si.umich.edu/CHICO/Harlem/text/mckay_slide.html 1889-1948

Authors: Langston Hughes The night is beautiful, So the faces of my people. The stars are beautiful, So the eyes of my people. Beautiful, also, is the sun. Beautiful, also, are the souls of my people. http://www.nku.edu/~diesmanj/hughes.html 1902-1961 “My People" in Crisis (October 1923)

Authors: Zora Neal Hurston “Love is lak de sea. It’s uh movin’ thing, but still and all, it takes its shape from de shore it meets, and it’s different with every shore.” Anthropologist & folklorist, 1891-1960

Actors: Paul Robeson Was an African American singer and actor who became involved with the Civil Rights Movement Rutgers Univ., 1915-1919 (football, debate team, glee club) 1898-1976

Visual Arts: Archibald Motley Blues, 1929, oil on canvas

Visual Arts: Aaron Douglas Sahdji, c. 1925, ink and graphite on wove paper, 12 1/16 x 9 inches ↓ Rebirth, 1927, oil on canvas→

The End of an Era Great Depression Riot in 1935 NAACP and NUL shift focus to economic and social issues Several prominent black leaders move out of Harlem such as DuBois and Hughes leave Harlem