Harlem Renaissance Gallery Walk

Archibald Motley

Billie Holiday

Chicago

Countee Cullen

Duke Ellington

James Van Der Zee

Josephine Baker

Langston Hughes

Louis Armstrong

“Back to Africa”

New York City

Paul Robeson

The Charleston

The Great Migration

Strange Fruit By Billie Holiday   Southern trees bear a strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root, Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze, Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees. Pastoral scene of the gallant south, The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth, Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh, Then the sudden smell of burning flesh. Here is fruit for the crows to pluck, For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck, For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop, Here is a strange and bitter crop.

I Have a Rendezvous With Life By Countee Cullen   I have a rendezvous with Life, 
In days I hope will come,
 Ere youth has sped, and strength of mind,
 Ere voices sweet grow dumb.
 I have a rendezvous with Life,
 When Spring's first heralds hum. 
Sure some would cry it's better far
 To crown their days with sleep
 Than face the road, the wind and rain,
 To heed the calling deep.
 Though wet nor blow nor space I fear,
 Yet fear I deeply, too,
 Lest Death should meet and claim me ere
 I keep Life's rendezvous.

“Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes   What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.

Harlem Renaissance

Civil Rights Movement

Jazz Age

Improvisation