The Harlem Rennaisance HARLEM RENAISSANCE Rebirth of AfricanAmerican

The Harlem Rennaisance

HARLEM RENAISSANCE • Rebirth of African-American culture • Jazz Age begins – Louis Armstrong – World Famous Jazz musician. • African American authors/poets – Langston Hughes- encouraged African Americans to look to the future

The Harlem Renaissance • In the 1920 s, many African American artists settled in Harlem, New York City • Black artists, musicians, and writers celebrated their African and American heritage

Harlem Renaissance Poets Claude Mc. Kay: From Jamaica, wrote the poem, “If We Must Die” that condemned lynchings Countee Cullen: Taught high school in Harlem, wrote of the experiences of

Langston Hughes • Most well-known of the Harlem Renaissance • • • poets Also wrote plays, short stories, and essays Encouraged African Americans to be proud of their heritage Protested racism and acts of violence against blacks Zora Neale Hurston • Wrote novels, short essays, short stories • Traveled throughout the South in a battered • car collecting folk tales, songs, and prayers of black southerners Published these in her book, “Mules and Men”

Dreams Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow.

Major Effect of Harlem Renaissance • African-American cultural pride flourished in the cities.

The Jazz Age Jazz: Born in New Orleans, created by African Americans, combination of West African rhythms, African American songs and spirituals, European harmonies Famous jazz musicians: Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Lena Horne and more. The Cotton Club: night club located Harlem from 1923 to 1940. It was a white-only establishment even but featured many of the best Black entertainers and jazz musicians of the era.

Louis Armstrong v Nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, v A jazz trumpeter and singer. v Considered one of the most influential jazz artists of all time. v Remembered for songs like 'Star Dust, ' 'La Via En Rose, '

Josephine Baker v An American-born dancer, singer, & actress v Known as the "Black Pearl, " "Bronze Venus" and even the "Creole Goddess. “ v First African-American woman to star in a major motion picture, Zouzou (1934) or to become a worldfamous entertainer. v Refused to perform for segregated audiences in America,

Duke Ellington v Composer, pianist and bandleader of jazz orchestras. v Career spanned over 50 years, v Led his orchestra from 1923 until death in 1974 v Most prolific composer of the twentieth century in both number of compositions and variety of forms.