1. The Harlem Renaissance An Overview

2. The Harlem Renaissance Period – End of WWI-Mid 1930’s Period – End of WWI-Mid 1930’s Harlem, New York Harlem, New York  A neighborhood in northern district of NYC

3. Common Themes Notion of “Two-ness” DDDDivided awareness of one’s identity WWWWEB De Bois- a founder of NAACP wrote: “One ever feels his two-ness, an American, a Negro, two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled stirrings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.”

4. Alienation Alienation Marginality Marginality Use of folk material Use of folk material Use of the blues Use of the blues

5. More than a Literary Movement Included racial consciousness Included racial consciousness “Back to Africa” movement “Back to Africa” movement Racial integration Racial integration Explosion of music Explosion of music Jazz, spirituals, blues Jazz, spirituals, blues Painting Painting Drama Drama Philosophical thought Philosophical thought Billie Holiday

6. HR brought the Black experience to the general American consciousness Black Migration Black Migration South to North South to North Rural to Urban Rural to Urban Peasant to sophisticate Peasant to sophisticate Created international networking for Blacks Created international networking for Blacks Spirit of self-determination Spirit of self-determination

7. Harlem Renaissance Significance Name, more than place, became synonymous with new vitality, Black urbanity Name, more than place, became synonymous with new vitality, Black urbanity Racial focal point all over the world Racial focal point all over the world Stood for urban pluralism Stood for urban pluralism

8. Harlem Renaissance Significance Alain Locke wrote: “The peasant, the student, the businessman, the professional man, artist, poet, musician, adventurer and worker, …each group has come with its own special motives …but their greatest experience has been the finding of one another.”