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African American Culture

The Harlem Renaissance The Great Migration occurred when hundreds of thousands of African Americans from rural South headed to industrial cities in the North AAs created environments that stimulated artistic development, racial pride, a sense of community, and political organization This led to a massive creative outpouring of AA arts This was the Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance Important Writers: Claude McKay- 1st important writer of the HR Expressed defiance and contempt of racism Langston Hughes- became the leading voice of the AA experience in the US Zora Neale Hurston- portrayed rural AA life (mostly in Florida= where she’s from) Central characters usually female

The Harlem Renaissance Jazz, Blues, and Theater Louis Armstrong introduced jazz A style of music influenced by Dixieland music and ragtime He became the first great cornet and trumpet soloist in jazz music The Cotton Club- where many famous AA musicians got their start. Ex. Duke Ellington Bessie Smith- sang about unrequited love, poverty, and oppression Classic themes in blues style music This soulful style evolved from AA spirituals

The Harlem Renaissance Shuffle Along- the 1st musical by AAs Apollo Theater- famous entertainment club in Harlem Paul Robeson performed here (he even became famous in Europe) Josephine Baker- The most daring performer of the era Well-known singer and dancer Performed on Broadway and in Paris

African American Politics After WWI AAs wanted a new role in politics The Great Migration led to AAs becoming powerful voting blocs Influenced outcomes of elections in the North Oscar De Priest- 1st AA representative in Congress from a Northern state NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) Battled segregation and discrimination Their efforts led to the passage of an anti-lynching bill in the House, but the Senate defeated it.

African American Politics Marcus Garvey Jamaican leader Believed in “Negro Nationalism” Founded the UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement Assoc.) Believed education was the way for AAs to gain economic and political power Also stressed a need for separation and independence from whites Back to Africa Movement Wanted to create a settlement in Liberia for AAs Many middle class AAs distanced themselves from him But, his ideas led to a sense of pride that resurfaced during the civil rights movement of the 1960’s