What is theWhat is theHarlem Harlem

RenaissanceRenaissance??

What is a Renaissance?What is a Renaissance?

• rebirth or revivalrebirth or revival• A period or movement of vigorous A period or movement of vigorous

artisticartistic or intellectual activityor intellectual activity

Harlem RenaissanceHarlem Renaissance• The cultural movement of The cultural movement of

African Americans during African Americans during the 1920’sthe 1920’s

• Brought about an Brought about an awareness of African awareness of African American culture and American culture and customs.customs.

• Involved art, literature, and Involved art, literature, and music.music.

• Impacted large cities Impacted large cities throughout the country.throughout the country.

• Many white American Many white American publishers endorsed the publishers endorsed the movement giving it movement giving it legitimacy.legitimacy.

HarlemHarlem

• Located in New York CityLocated in New York City• Between 125Between 125thth Street and 145 Street and 145thth

Street.Street.• Originally white but as African Originally white but as African

Americans moved in the whites Americans moved in the whites moved out.moved out.

• Center of African American culture Center of African American culture and business during the 1920’s.and business during the 1920’s.

Duke EllingtonDuke Ellington• Musical composer and pianist Musical composer and pianist • Orchestra leaderOrchestra leader• Early great hits:Early great hits: Black Black

and Tan Fantasyand Tan Fantasy Black Black BeautyBeauty Creole Creole Love CallLove Call It It Don’t Mean a ThingDon’t Mean a Thing

• Played at the Cotton ClubPlayed at the Cotton Club- attend by white - attend by white

audiencesaudiences - listen to nation - listen to nation wide on the radiowide on the radio

Louis ArmstrongLouis Armstrong• Jazz musician (trumpet player)Jazz musician (trumpet player)• Renown bandleader and singerRenown bandleader and singer• Later life a movie starLater life a movie star• Hits from the 1920’s included:Hits from the 1920’s included:

St. Louis BluesSt. Louis BluesAin’t Ain’t

Misbehavin’Misbehavin’ I I Ain’t Got NobodyAin’t Got NobodyDream a Little Dream For MeDream a Little Dream For Me

Everybody Loves My BabyEverybody Loves My Baby

Other notable Other notable entertainersentertainers

• Bessie Smith Bessie Smith - Empress of the - Empress of the

BluesBlues – Blues – Blues SingerSinger

• Jelly Roll MortonJelly Roll Morton- jazz pianist- jazz pianist

Cotton ClubCotton Club• Famous Harlem Famous Harlem

nightclubnightclub• Featured many of the Featured many of the

great African American great African American and white entertainersand white entertainers

• Broadcast their shows Broadcast their shows nationwide on the radionationwide on the radio

• Audiences were Audiences were predominately white predominately white Americans Americans

The Apollo TheaterThe Apollo Theater

• A showcase Harlem A showcase Harlem TheaterTheater

• Opened to white Opened to white Americans only until Americans only until the 1930’sthe 1930’s

• African American African American entertainersentertainers

Marcus GarveyMarcus Garvey• Dynamic public speakerDynamic public speaker• Founded Universal Negro Improvement Founded Universal Negro Improvement

Association (UNIA)Association (UNIA)• Urged African Americans to be proud of Urged African Americans to be proud of

their race and move back to Africa.their race and move back to Africa.

W.E.B. DuboisW.E.B. Dubois• Founder of the National Association for the Founder of the National Association for the

Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).• Promoted higher education for African Promoted higher education for African

Americans.Americans.• Published Published The CrisisThe Crisis, an outlet for African , an outlet for African

American thoughts and ideas.American thoughts and ideas.

The CrisisThe Crisis• The official magazine of the The official magazine of the

NAACPNAACP• Originally titled Originally titled The Crisis: The Crisis:

A Record of the Darker A Record of the Darker RaceRace..

• Goal: Give facts and Goal: Give facts and arguments showing the arguments showing the danger of racial prejudice danger of racial prejudice specifically as it applies to specifically as it applies to African Americans.African Americans.

• Noted writers: Langston Noted writers: Langston Hughes and Countee CullenHughes and Countee Cullen

William H JohnsonWilliam H Johnson

• Painter Painter • Painted scenes of African American daily Painted scenes of African American daily

liveslives• Impacted American society (awareness)Impacted American society (awareness)

Langston HughesLangston Hughes

• Born in Missouri (1902)Born in Missouri (1902)• Took the African American Took the African American

tradition of oral story telling tradition of oral story telling and transformed it intoand transformed it into

written form written form• Depicted racial prideDepicted racial pride

I, TooI, TooI, too, sing America.I, too, sing America.I am the darker brother.I am the darker brother.They send me to eat in the kitchenThey send me to eat in the kitchenWhen company comes,When company comes,But I laugh, But I laugh, And eat well, and grow strong. And eat well, and grow strong. Tomorrow,Tomorrow,I’ll be at the tableI’ll be at the tableWhen company comes.When company comes.Nobody’ll dareNobody’ll dareSay to me,Say to me,““Eat in the kitchen,”Eat in the kitchen,”The.The.Besides, They’ll see how beautiful I amBesides, They’ll see how beautiful I amAnd be ashamed –And be ashamed –I, too, am AmericanI, too, am American

Langston HughesLangston Hughes