Harlem Renaissance By Justine Espinosa and Kimber Morley

Harlem Renaissance By: Justine Espinosa and Kimber Morley

The Harlem Renaissance “From 1920 until about 1930 an unprecedented outburst of creative activity among African-Americans occurred in all fields of art. Primarily known as The New Negro Movement, the Harlem Renaissance was more than a literary movement and more than a social revolt against racism, This era exalted the unique culture of African-Americans and redefined African. American expression. ” -Alain Le. Roy Locke

People of The Harlem Renaissance flourished with many musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Eubie Blake, Billie Holiday, Fletcher Henderson, Benny Goodman, and Ethel Waters. African Americans expanded literature with exceptional writers like Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and W. E. B. Du. Bois. William H. Johnson, Lois Mailou Jones, Jacob Lawerence, and Archibald Romare Bearden and the sculptor and printmaker , Sargent Clauded Johnson were all influential artists associated with the Harlem Renaissance. These people listed above are only a few people important people during this time. There are TONS of other people who were important during this literary, artistic, and culture movement of the 1920 s to 1940 s.

Billie Holiday Born Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of the most influential jazz singers of all time, Billie Holiday had a flourishing career for many years before she struggle with substance abuse and ended her singing career. During her early life she became very influenced by Louis Armstrong and Bennie Smith. Around 1930 she began singing at local clubs renamed herself Billie after Billie Dove (famous film star). In 1934 she made her first record with Benny Goodman. And in 1935 she recorded four hit songs including What a Little Moonlight Can Do, and Miss Brown to You. In 1947 she was charged of drug usage and was arrested. She later returned to music after many hard struggles until her death in 1959.

Langston Hughes He was born Joplin Missouri, in 1902. As a young boy he was inspired by Booker T. Washington and W. E. B Dubois. He later moved to Harlem while attending Columbia University and gave up on his engineering career to become a writer. The blues, jazz and dialect around Harlem inspired his poems. In 1926 Hughes published his first book of poems, The Weary Nights, about Harlem life. Hughes continued writing through the 1930's and the 1940's, speaking for the poor and the homeless black people who suffered during the Great Depression. He was considered “Harlem’s Poem” to the people. He died in 1967 at the age of 65.

William H. Johnson Was born in 1901 into a working-class black family in Florence, South Carolina. In 1926 he moved to France where he begun painting and studies of modernist art. He was inspired in art by Van Gogh and Cizanne. Ten years later he moved to New York and became strongly influenced by the excitement and culture of Harlem. It was in the late 1930's and 1940's, Johnson’s interests in modernism, primitive art, and African-American life, that he found his own mature style of art. Some of his most famous art is “The Café” and “Going to Church”. William Johnson continued with art until his death in 1970.

The Cotton Club The Cotton Club was passed from Jack Johnson to a gangster named Owney Madden. The Cotton Club was closed for a short time, for bootlegger “Mob-Gangster” Madden to sell liquor here. It later reopened without any trouble from police The club helped jumpstart many famous black Americans careers such as; Duke Ellington, Ethel Waters, Cab Calloway, and Lena Horne. It was safe to say this was a very popular spot to let loose and hang out, however it was not the only place in Harlem. Only white people were aloud as guests here.

The Savoy Ballroom Located on Lenex Avenue, The Savoy Ballroom was the place to dance and listen to music. This was where the “Lindy Hop, ” a form of swing dancing, came to life. Unlike the Cotton Club, black people and white people were aloud to dance together here. However, in 1958, it closed.

The Swing People would hold “rent parties” and charge anyone who would want to attend, that couldn’t pay their monthly rent, and music and dancing would be held here. As mentioned earlier, the “Lindy Hop” was a very popular dance for African Americans everywhere in Harlem. Herbert “Whitey” White, began booking dancers at public and private clubs. From this, a group of Lindy Hop dancers were discovered, and made film appearances where the dance was later revealed to many people.

Apollo Theater Built in 1923, Apollo theater was America’s most famous club for playing popular This theater is known as the “Living Legacy of the Harlem Renaissance. ”

Impact of Harlem Renaissance The Harlem Renaissance was so successful throughout history that it brought the African American experiences into American culture and history! It changed the nation’s view of the African American population. This movement opened up new opportunities for African Americans throughout American culture and social aspects. The Harlem Renaissance influenced African American writers later in the 1930 s and 1940 s. The Harlem Renaissance impact continues today which changed the arts and literature African- American’s in the United States.

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