The Harlem Renaissance I can never put on paper the thrill of the underground ride to Harlem. I went up the steps and out into the bright September sunlight. Harlem! I stood there, dropped my bags, took a deep breath and felt happy again. Langston Hughes

Why it Matters As a result of WWI Millions of African Americans migrated from the rural south to the urban North Continued through the 20s and inspired a flowering of music and literature Jazz/Harlem Renaissance Made a lasting impact on the culture Americans share today

Migrants Face Changes & Challenges Wages In the North were better Blacks had a growing political voice in the North “Professional” jobs available to them Did not escape racism/oppression Forced to live poor housing 1919 Race riots broke out New Yorks Harlem became a focal point of inspiration 200,000 blacks settled in Harlem

Garvey Calls for Racial Pride Marcus Garvey Immigrated in 1916 Felt everywhere blacks were exploited “Back to Africa” movement Advocated the separation of races Universal Negro Improvement Assoc. Movement died but his ideas didn’t fade Nation of Islam Black Power

A Unique American Music Emerges Jazz Emerged in the South (New Orleans) Spread north with the Great Migration Louis Armstrong Unofficial ambassador of jazz Bessie Smith “Empress of the Blues”

Jazz wins worldwide popularity Symbol of roaring 20s Played in speakeasies Sound of the Cotton club Phonographs/Radio spread the influence Jazz announced that the U.S. was a land of shared cultures Bridged races Changed popular music

African American Literature Flowers Harlem Renaissance “New Negro” Writers explored the pains and joys of being black in America Claude McKay-showed ordinary African Amer. struggling for dignity “If we must die-let it not be like hogs, Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot. While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, Marking their mark at our accursed lot… What though before us lies the open grave? Like men we will face the murderous cowardly pack, Pressed to the wall, dying but fighting back”

Cont.. Langston Hughes Nora Neale Hurston Not political, but a celebration of African-American culture 50 works of poetry Captured the diversity of everyday life Nora Neale Hurston Folk tales 1937-”Their Eyes were watching God” Longing for independence for both blacks and women Their Eyes were watching God

The Harlem Renaissance has Lasting Impact Gave a voice to African American culture Altered the way white Americans viewed African-American culture Sense of group identity and solidarity that would become a bedrock for the Civil Rights movement