Harlem Renaissance 1920 s1940 s Harlem New York

Harlem Renaissance 1920 s-1940 s Harlem, New York City

Renaissance A rebirth or revival

Where is Harlem? The island of Manhattan New York City is on Manhattan island Neighborhoods

Harlem Renaissance Fostered a new black cultural identity Common bond American life from an African American perspective A flowering of creative expression and social thought through: Paintings Music Dance Theater Literature (primary artistic movement)

The Great Migration At the beginning of the 20 th Century racism was common and economic opportunities were scarce for Africa Americans in the south New farm machinery drove thousands of African American farmers from their jobs Northern states also had more cultural attractions and growing industries Jobs were plentiful in the northern cities

The Great Migration • Between 1920 and 1930, almost 750, 000 African Americans left the South for political, social, and economic reasons. • Mass exodus from the South called The Great Migration. • By 1920 over 40% of African Americans lived in cities

Why Harlem? Of the almost 750, 000 African Americans who moved North, nearly 175, 000 moved to Harlem. Largest black urban community The end of World War I and the return of black veterans The formation of civil rights organizations (NAACP) and black solidarity movements (UNIA) The ascendance of Harlem as the "Negro capital of the world” A new sense of economic, social, and cultural potential

African American Writers Claude Mc. Kay Langston Huges Poems expressed the pain of life in the ghetto Poet Describe the difficult lives of working class African Americans Zora Neale Hurston Short stories and poems Often about the lives of poor unschooled southern blacks

African American Performers Paul Robeson Louis Armstrong Trumpet player Considered most important and influential musician in the history of jazz Duke Ellington Jazz pianist Led 10 piece orchestra at famous Cotton Club Renowned as one of American’s greatest composers Bessie Smith

Study the picture for 2 minutes. Form an overall impression of the painting, then start to focus on individual details. Questions to think about: 1. What do you see? 2. What people do you see? 3. What objects do you see? 4. What colors do you see? 5. What actions/activities do you see? 6. What questions does this painting raise in your mind? 7. How does this painting relate to the Harlem Renaissance? “Ascent from Ethiopia”, Louis Mailou Jones. 1932 8. Based on what you have observed, list what you may infer from this painting.