1. African American Culture 17-5

2. The Harlem Renaissance  Great Migration African Americans move from rural South to industrial North African Americans move from rural South to industrial North During and after WWIDuring and after WWI South South Segregation/discriminationSegregation/discrimination North North Still job discrimination and economic inequality, but better than SouthStill job discrimination and economic inequality, but better than South

3. Harlem  Harlem, NY  Nightclubs MUSIC MUSIC  Flowering of African American culture = Harlem Renaissance Artistic development Artistic development Racial pride Racial pride Political organization Political organization

5. The Writers  Claude McKay Racism in Harlem Shadows book of poetry in 1922 Racism in Harlem Shadows book of poetry in 1922  Langston Hughes Prolific writer and leading voice of African American experience Prolific writer and leading voice of African American experience  Zora Neale Hurston 1930s 1930s Jonah’s Gourd Vine and Their Eyes Were Watching God Jonah’s Gourd Vine and Their Eyes Were Watching God Rural African American culture Rural African American culture First time African American women were main characters First time African American women were main characters

7. Jazz, Blues, and the Theater  Louis Armstrong New Orleans native moved to Chicago in 1922 New Orleans native moved to Chicago in 1922 First great trumpet soloist in jazz First great trumpet soloist in jazz Improvisational early form of jazz Improvisational early form of jazz Jazz: influenced by dixieland blues and ragtime, featured syncopated rhythms and improvJazz: influenced by dixieland blues and ragtime, featured syncopated rhythms and improv “Cornet Chop Suey” “Cornet Chop Suey”

9. Jazz, Blues, and the Theater (con’t)  Edward “Duke” Ellington New sound: improv + different orchestra instruments New sound: improv + different orchestra instruments Performed in NY speakeasies/clubs Performed in NY speakeasies/clubs “Mood Indigo” and “Sophisticated Lady” “Mood Indigo” and “Sophisticated Lady” Composed 6,000 music pieces (only 1/3 jazz) Composed 6,000 music pieces (only 1/3 jazz) Religious musicReligious music Movie scoresMovie scores BalletBallet

11. Cotton Club  Famous club that launched stars like Ellington and others  Located in Harlem, but only served whites

12. Jazz, Blues, and the Theater  Bessie Smith Soulful singing evolved from African American spirituals “The Empress of the Blues” Blues: unfulfilled love, poverty, oppression “Down Hearted Blues” (1923)

13. Theater  Shuffle Along—first musical performed, produced, and written by African Americans Broadway 1921 Actors: Florence Mills, Paul Robeson Apollo Theater in Harlem

14. Theater (con’t)  Josephine Baker Singer/dancer Singer/dancer Broadway Broadway Moved to Paris to launch an international career Moved to Paris to launch an international career

15. Harlem Renaissance  Harlem Renaissance brought international attention and fame to African American arts and culture.