1. The Harlem Renaissance
The Big Idea: Defining the Harlem Renaissance
The New York city neighborhood of Harlem became the center of an explosion of African American literature, art, and music during the 1920’s called the Harlem Renaissance
During this time, African Americans start to make political gains as their population increases.
Black Nationalism instills pride in black culture and hope for the future of African Americans.

2. Questions # 1, 2
My family like many other families, after WWI, moved from the rural South to industrial cities in the North to escape segregation and to find better jobs.
Many whites in the North resented this influx and riots broke out in major cities like Chicago in the summer of There were so many riots and fighting between whites and blacks that the summer of 1919 was called
Red Summer.

3. N.A.A.C.P
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded in 1909 and fought against all manner of discrimination, segregation and lynchings performed against African Americans.
Its efforts focused primarily on lobbying public officials and though the court system.
During the 1919 race riots the NAACP led peaceful protests and organized appeals for 12 black men accused of murder during the race riots.
Between NAACP membership doubled.
Questions
# 3, 4

4. Black Nationalism Question # 5
Jamaican leader, Marcus Garvey founded the UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement Association) to promote black pride and unity.
Garvey taught that African Americans could gain economic and political power by educating themselves.
In 1920, 50,000 people led by Garvey marched through Harlem proclaiming black pride and the idea that blacks should move “Back to Africa” to the country of Liberia to fully reclaim their justice and freedom.
Many in America were alarmed at the “Back to Africa” movement and following a short stay in jail for mail fraud, Garvey was deported to Jamaica.
Black Nationalism
Question
# 5

5. The Musicians Question # 6, 7
Louis Armstrong arrived in Chicago from New Orleans in 1922 to play with Joe “King” Oliver’s band.
Armstrong introduced an improvisational early form of jazz.
By 1925, Louis was playing highly imaginative solos.
Duke Ellington moved to NY in 1923 and played in the “Cotton Club”, a Harlem hotspot.
Bessie Smith, Empress of the Blues, sang songs evolved from African spirituals.
Josephine Baker, popular singer and dancer performed on Broadway then took Paris by storm in 1925.

6. Most Harlem Renaissance writers expressed a proud defiance and bitter contempt of racism.
Claude McKay wrote prolifically about racism in his poetry
Langston Hughes shared the African American experience through over 850 poems like “I, too”.
Zora Neale Hurston, a novelist wrote about the rural African American experience often with females as the central character in the story.
Question
# 8
The Writers
Claude McKay

7. The Artists
Question # 9
A central theme of art from the Harlem Renaissance is is the depiction of everyday African American life and was intended to capture undertones of emotion and struggle present in the everyday lives of 1920s and 30s blacks in America.
Lois Jones attended the School of Museum of Fine Art, Boston, during a time of strong discrimination against African Americans. She entered her works into exhibitions that did not recognize African American artists by having white friends deliver the paintings.
Aaron Douglas whose work best exemplified the 'New Negro' philosophy. He produced illustrations and cover designs for many black publications and painted many murals including a mural he painted for the 135th Street branch of the New York Public Library in Harlem. The four-panel mural tracks the journey of African Americans from freedom in Africa to enslavement and from liberation after the Civil War to life in the modern city.

8. In my spare time I really enjoyed reading the poetry of the Harlem Renaissance and viewing the vivid art- have you seen the vibrant colors of the art popular in Harlem?
Group Challenge
# 4
Read or listen to Langston Hughes poem
“I, too”. What is this poem about?
What was the book “Their Eyes Were Watching
God”
about?
Examine and describe the painting “Brother Brown”- who painted it?

9. The Harlem Renaissance and the cultural pride and freedom it gave blacks, eventually led to a push for Civil Rights by the African American community in the 1950’s and 60’s.
The Effects
Question # 10