The Harlem Renaissance From poetry to Civil Rights…an evolution of sounds and ideas.

In the early 1920s, African American artists, writers, and performers were part of a great cultural movement known as the Harlem Renaissance.

Historical Connections African American migration to the north Doctors, singers, students, musicians, painters, writers, shopkeepers congregated in a neighborhood called Harlem Forming a vibrant mecca of cultural inspiration Demanded to be a part of American culture Garnering a new respect from mainstream America

The African American Experience Writers wrote about it… Artists painted it… Photographers recorded it… Musicians put it to music Vocalists sang about it… “It was the period when the Negro was in vogue.” --Langston Hughes

Blues comes alive and Jazz is born.

I hate to see de evenin’ sun go down. Cause my baby, she done lef dis town. ---W.C. Handy “St. Louis Blues”

I worry all day, I worry all night, Everytime my man comes home he want to fuss and fight, When I pick up the paper try to read the news, Just when I’m satisfied, yonder comes the blues. --Ma Rainey “Yonder Comes the Blues”

When you get good lovin’ never go and spread the news, They’ll double-cross you and leave you with them empty bed blues. --Bessie Smith “Empty Bed Blues”

Rhetorical Modes Autobiographies Poetry Short stories Novels folklore

Themes Issues of… Race Class Religion Gender Relationships

A by-product of African American writing was the affirmation that black dialects were as legitimate as standard English.

Langston Hughes

I, Too I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong.

Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table When company comes. Nobody’ll dare Say to me, “Eat in the kitchen,” Then.

Besides, They’ll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

All websites and images from this presentation were obtained from the Library of Congress American Memory Collection.