Harlem Renaissance

THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE/NEW NEGRO MOVEMENT OF THE 1920’s AND 30’s

MR. HARDYAFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORYAUDENRIED HIGH SCHOOL PHILA., PA

WHAT WAS THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE?

• A literary, cultural, artistic and intellectual movement that began in Harlem, New York that took place between 1920 – 1935.

FORMS OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONDURING THE RENAISSANCE

• LITERARY ARTS• VISUAL ARTS• PERFORMING ARTS

LITERARY ARTS

• POETRY• NOVELS• SHORT STORIES• ESSAYS

SIGNIFICANT LITERARY ARTISTS OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE

LANGSTON HUGHES

ZORA NEALE HURSTON

JAMES WELDON JOHNSON

CLAUDE MCKAY

LANGSTON HUGHES• One of the best known writers of the

Harlem Renaissance.

• Poet, essayist, and playwright

• Hughes’ literature expressed the joy, suffering, and pride of being a black American.

ZORA NEALE HURSTON

• Graduate of HBCU’s: Morgan State and Howard Univ.

• Novelist during the Harlem Renaissance who focused on themes of African American folklore

• Most famous novel: Their Eyes Were Watching God

JAMES WELDON JOHNSON

• Writer and political activist

• In 1900, he co-wrote the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” that later became the official anthem of the NAACP and later the unofficial “Negro National Anthem.”

VISUAL ARTS

• FILMMAKING• PAINTING• SCULPTURE• PHOTOGRAPHY

SIGNIFICANT VISUAL ARTISTS OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE

OSCAR MICHEAUX

JAMES VANDERZEE

AARON DOUGLAS

OSCAR MICHEAUX

• First African American to make a feature film in 1919.

• He made films to fight against the negative stereotypes of blacks and to comment on race relations.

James Vanderzee- The most well known photographer during

the Harlem Renaissance period.

Aaron Douglas- Known as “The Dean of African American

Painters,” was well known painter and illustrator of the period.

PERFORMING ARTS

• MUSIC• DANCE• ACTING

SIGNIFICANT PERFORMING ARTISTS OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE PERIOD

BILL “BOJANGLES” ROBINSON

BILLIE HOLIDAY

DUKE ELLINGTON

PAUL ROBESON

PAUL ROBESON• One of the most famous African

American actors of the 20th century.

• Achieved success in acting roles that were off limit to blacks.

• Later in life became outspoken activist of civil rights and social justice.

BILLIE HOLIDAY

• Considered the greatest Jazz singer of all-time who became prominent during the Renaissance.

• Went by the nickname of “Lady Day”

DUKE ELLINGTON

• Composer, musician, and bandleader during the Harlem Renaissance.

• Well known for breaking racial barriers by performing at theaters and hotels that were off limits to black performers and black audiences.

POLITICS AND ACTIVISM DURING THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE

MARCUS GARVEY

WHO WAS MARCUS GARVEY?

• Jamaican born activist and speaker who led the “Back to Africa Movement”

• Founder of the UNIA

“BACK TO AFRICA” MOVEMENT

• Fed up with life in America under white rule, Garvey rallied blacks to leave and start their own colony in Africa.

• The movement was designed to instill pride and empower the black race.

UNIVERSAL NEGRO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (UNIA)

• Organization founded by Garvey in 1914 designed to promote self-reliance and solidarity among blacks worldwide.

• By the 1920s, there were over 700 UNIA branches all over the United States.