1. 1920 to 1936

2. Harlem Renaissance Defined Harlem Renaissance (HR) is the name given to the period from the end of World War I and through the middle of the 1930s Depression, during which a group of talented African-American writers produced a sizable body of literature in the four prominent genres of poetry, fiction, drama, and essay.

3. Harlem Renaissance Defined (continued) Not limited to literature, the movement also includes philosophy, theater, the visual arts, and music.

4. Harlem Renaissance Dates Beginning dates range from 1914 to 1920 Ending dates range from 1935 to 1940

5. Great Migration Beginning of World War I Job opportunities in North 1915-1918 Some believe this to be the beginning of H.R.

6. Key Figures

7. W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963) Philosopher Sociologist Civil rights activist

8. W.E.B. Du Bois African Americans must be taught racial pride and African cultural heritage Coined the term “Talented Tenth”

9. Charles Gilpin (1878-1930) Performing arts: theater

10. Theater and Film Charles Gilpin founded the Lafayette Players Few plays were written by African Americans

11. Alain LeRoy Locke (1886-1954) Philosopher Educator

12. Alain Locke The New Negro Saw Harlem as race capital

13. Marcus Garvey (1887-1940) Political leader Publisher and journalist Jamaican National Hero

14. Marcus Garvey Back to Africa movement

15. Claude McKay (1890-1948) Writer

16. Claude McKay “If we must die—let it not be like hogs hunted and penned in an inglorious spot…Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack, Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!”

17. Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) Writer Anthropologist Folklorist

18. Jean Toomer (1894-1967) Writer

19. Jean Toomer Poet Envisioned an American identity that would transcend race Did not seek out “black” forms for his poetry

20. Bessie Smith (1895-1937) Jazz and Blues Singer

21. Langston Hughes (1902-1967) Writer

22. Langston Hughes “We younger Negro artists…intend to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame. If white people are pleased, we are glad. If they are not, it doesn’t matter.”

23. End of World War I “We return. We return from fighting. Make way for democracy! We saved it in France, and by the Great Jehovah, we will save it in the United States of America or know the reason why.” W.E.B. De Bois

24. Creative Forms Writers Poets Philosophers Musicians Visual Artists Filmmakers

25. African-American Literature Sought to reach entire community, not just highly educated Periodicals (magazines) acted as a medium of intellectual discourse

26. End of the Renaissance The Great Depression 50% of families in Harlem were out of work Harlem Race Riot, 1935

27. Gains of the Harlem Renaissance African Americans proved themselves to be talented and capable Created a new consciousness in blacks and whites New art forms Socioeconomic changes

28. The Harlem Renaissance