Aim: What impact did the Harlem Renaissance have on American society? Do Now: Why did African Americans migrate north during the early 20th century (1900s)?

Reason #1

According to The Crisis records, 77 Negroes were lynched during the year 1919. During the year 1918 64 Negroes were lynched. Georgia still leads with an increase in lynchings; Mississippi takes second place, instead of Texas with 5 more lynchings; the is Alabama. Reason #2

Reason #3

Reason #4 Mobile, Ala., April, 26, 1917 Dear Sir: . . . I am writing to you for advice about coming north. I am a brickmason and I can do cement work. . . . [I need to] make a support for my self and family. There is nothing here [in the South] for the colored man but a hard time which these southern crackers gives us. We has not had any work to do in 4 weeks. Please help this brother. Source: Deirdre Mullane, ed. Crossing the Danger Water: Three Hundred Years of African-American Writing (New York: Anchor Books, 1993), p. 458. Reason #4

Reason #5

The Great Migration: Movement of 6 million African Americans who left the mostly rural (farm) South to migrate to the northern industrial cities. African Americans moved to cities like New York, Chicago, and St. Louis.

The Harlem Renaissance: Period of time when large numbers of African American musicians, artists , and writers settled in Harlem, NYC. During the Harlem Renaissance young black artists and some whites celebrated their African and American heritage. Renaissance: rebirth, new start. Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong Langston Hughes Duke Ellington and his orchestra Zora Neale Hurston

Effects of the Harlem Renaissance: Increase in number of educated African Americans African Americans obtained better pay and working conditions than in the South Increase in the number of the Ku Klux Klan members Increase in lynchings Growth of movements that promoted the interests of African Americans

"Strange Fruit" Poem by Abel Meeropol in 1939 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 magnolia sweet and fresh then the sudden smell of burning flesh Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck for the rain to gather for the wind to suck for the sun to rot for the tree to drop Here is a strange and bitter crop

Task: Conduct a gallery walk to understand what the Harlem Renaissance was all about! (the art, the music, the writing…) As you analyze the art pieces, keep in mind our collaborative reading of “Strange Fruit” and visualize/feel the emotions and ideas the authors were trying to convey...

Closure: What impact did the Harlem Renaissance have on American society in the 1920s and today?