Racial Strife and the Harlem Renaissance Mr. Bach United States History

Racial Strife in America The period immediately after World War I was marked with some of the worst racial violence in U.S. history.

Reasons for Racial Violence Rebirth of the Ku Klux Klan D.W. Griffith’s “Birth of a Nation” (the first full-length motion picture) glamorized the klan.

Reasons for Racial Violence 64 KKK lynchings in 1918 83 KKK lynchings in 1919

Reasons for Racial Violence Blacks migrated north to fill industrial jobs vacated by whites who went off to fight WWI.

Reasons for Racial Violence When whites returned - they wanted their jobs back. However, many of the owners kept Blacks - they worked for less money. Whites took out their anger on Blacks.

Began when a Black child swam into the white section of a beach. Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Began when a Black child swam into the white section of a beach. The white swimmers stoned him to death.

Chicago Race Riot of 1919 In the riots - 38 people were killed and over 500 were injured. Race Riots broke out throughout the country.

Chicago Race Riot of 1919

Chicago Race Riot of 1919

The Harlem Renaissance White hostilities caused Black Americans to turn inward and focus on building up their own communities. The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that brought great literature, music, and thought to Black America.

The Harlem Renaissance Political Thought W.E.B. DuBois worked with the NAACP to fight for Black political rights and integration.

The Harlem Renaissance Political Thought Marcus Garvey - his “Black Power” movement stressed that Blacks should return to Africa. He wanted separation from whites.

The Harlem Renaissance Literature Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston wrote poetry and novels which created positive Black figures and experiences.

The Harlem Renaissance Music Ragtime Largely piano music made popular in gambling halls and brothels. Brought to the mainstream by Scott Joplin.

The Harlem Renaissance Music Jazz - improvised with no rigid form. Had roots in African rhythms. Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong Became popular with white America.