The Harlem Renaissance

Welcome to the Harlem Renaissance Art, Dance, Music, Literature, Community Activism, and Social Commentary represent a cultural movement that began as the “New Negro Movement” and later became known as the Harlem Renaissance during the 1920s-30s.

Factors contributing to the Movement The first group of African Americans to migrate North came during World War I. A large number of African Americans migrated because they were seeking better job opportunities, and wanted to escape the Jim Crow of the South.

A new life Many African Americans came to the North creating businesses, neighborhoods, political organizations, and Harlem quickly became the center for African American culture.

Harlem, New York

Examples of Art, Literature, Music, Community Activism After viewing examples of the following topics listed above groups will research people associated with these topics in more depth and will create a city street of Harlem.

Art Jacob Lawrence Dunbar- The Funeral

Music

Literature What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? LANGSTON HUGES

Community Activism NAACP

Instructions Students will work in collaborative groups to create a city street representing Harlem. They need to design their buildings reflecting of the times. They may have a museum, bookstore, office building, church, school, and nightclub. They are to give their buildings a name and a logo or some advertisement, and name their city street. Students must find have five example for each topic, and keep annotated notes or a record of their findings/research. Students will adhere their information to a tri-fold board and present their information to the class. Rubric for presentation will be distributed separately, and the teacher will assign groups

Sources and Websites ica/Harlem.html memrenaissance.htm African American History and Culture- Smithsonian Institute