Harlem Renaissance

Harlem RenaissanceHarlem Renaissance

By:By:

Jesse Yoder andJesse Yoder and

Corey HouckCorey Houck

What was the Harlem RenaissanceWhat was the Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance was a movement of African-The Harlem Renaissance was a movement of African-American population in New York City (mainly the American population in New York City (mainly the Harlem area), in which there was an awakening and Harlem area), in which there was an awakening and revival of African-American arts.revival of African-American arts.

““It was one of the most colorful and culturally It was one of the most colorful and culturally productive eras in African-American history.”productive eras in African-American history.”

When did the Harlem Renaissance occur?When did the Harlem Renaissance occur?

The Harlem Renaissance took place generally in the The Harlem Renaissance took place generally in the decades of the 1920’s and 1930’s.decades of the 1920’s and 1930’s.

It emerged out of World War I, and ended as the It emerged out of World War I, and ended as the Great Depression began.Great Depression began.

It was a time when the arts and literature flourished.It was a time when the arts and literature flourished.

Attitude towards the Harlem RenaissanceAttitude towards the Harlem Renaissance

- Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins observed that art - Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins observed that art was was "of great value to any people as a "of great value to any people as a preserver of manners and customs—religious, preserver of manners and customs—religious, political, and social. It is a record of growth political, and social. It is a record of growth and development from generation to and development from generation to generation. No one will do this for us; we must generation. No one will do this for us; we must ourselves develop the men and women who ourselves develop the men and women who will faithfully portray the inmost thoughts and will faithfully portray the inmost thoughts and feelings of the Negro with all the fire and feelings of the Negro with all the fire and romance which lie dormant in our history. . . ."romance which lie dormant in our history. . . ."

The Harlem Renaissance in the The Harlem Renaissance in the Eyes of Pauline HopkinsEyes of Pauline Hopkins

This quote seems to imply that the African-This quote seems to imply that the African-American were tired of being oppressed and American were tired of being oppressed and they weren’t going to be in silence anymore, they weren’t going to be in silence anymore, they wanted the world to know what they went they wanted the world to know what they went through and how it had impacted their livesthrough and how it had impacted their lives

Also, it seems like no one was going to stick Also, it seems like no one was going to stick up for the African-Americans, so they took it up for the African-Americans, so they took it in their own hands, and decided to change the in their own hands, and decided to change the image of the African-Americanimage of the African-American

Who were influential to the Harlem Renaissance?Who were influential to the Harlem Renaissance?

Sutton Griggs was a writer who’s most famous work Sutton Griggs was a writer who’s most famous work was was Pointing the WayPointing the Way, written in 1908., written in 1908.

W.E.B Dubois was a writer who’s most famous W.E.B Dubois was a writer who’s most famous works include works include The Quest of the Silver FleeceThe Quest of the Silver Fleece, written , written in 1911, and in 1911, and DarkwaterDarkwater, written in 1918., written in 1918.

Who were influential to the Harlem Renaissance? Who were influential to the Harlem Renaissance? ContinuedContinued

Another writer was James Weldon Johnson, who Another writer was James Weldon Johnson, who wrote wrote The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored ManThe Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, , which was written in 1912.which was written in 1912.

Claude McKay wrote Claude McKay wrote Harlem ShadowsHarlem Shadows, in 1922., in 1922. Jean Toomer wrote Jean Toomer wrote CaneCane in 1923. in 1923.

OriginsOrigins

““The Harlem Renaissance began as a series of literary The Harlem Renaissance began as a series of literary discussions in the Greenwich Village and Harlem discussions in the Greenwich Village and Harlem sections of New York City” sections of New York City”

This seems to indicate that the Harlem Renaissance This seems to indicate that the Harlem Renaissance was not by accident and that the collaboration of the was not by accident and that the collaboration of the African-Americans was inevitableAfrican-Americans was inevitable

Origins in the Words of Ossie Origins in the Words of Ossie DavisDavis

““The Harlem Renaissance" is one of those fancy The Harlem Renaissance" is one of those fancy terms that white folks use when they want to look at a terms that white folks use when they want to look at a certain aspect of black folks. I don't think any of us certain aspect of black folks. I don't think any of us went around say, "Well, we gonna have us a went around say, "Well, we gonna have us a renaissance," or anything like that. It was just a renaissance," or anything like that. It was just a holiday of the spirit”holiday of the spirit”

Thoughts on the Quote by Ossie Thoughts on the Quote by Ossie DavisDavis

This seems to agree, but also disagree with the This seems to agree, but also disagree with the thoughts of the origins of the Harlem Renaissance by thoughts of the origins of the Harlem Renaissance by other peopleother people

It agrees in the aspect that the Renaissance was not It agrees in the aspect that the Renaissance was not preplanned, and somewhat spontaneouspreplanned, and somewhat spontaneous

But others disagree in the sense that it doesn’t seem But others disagree in the sense that it doesn’t seem to be a “holiday of the spirit”, it was more of a feeling to be a “holiday of the spirit”, it was more of a feeling felt by the African-American population and had felt by the African-American population and had been felt for a long time, not just for a couple of been felt for a long time, not just for a couple of months or years months or years

More than just the OutsideMore than just the Outside

Howard University Professor Alain Locke Howard University Professor Alain Locke stated that “Negro life is not only founding stated that “Negro life is not only founding new centers, but finding a new soul.”new centers, but finding a new soul.”

When the African-Americans where enslaved, When the African-Americans where enslaved, they always had a religious connection and a they always had a religious connection and a culture, which they were able to preserve and culture, which they were able to preserve and eventually it blossomed in the Harlem eventually it blossomed in the Harlem Renaissance.Renaissance.

Harlem’s Got PrideHarlem’s Got Pride

Cary Wintz said that “The Harlem Cary Wintz said that “The Harlem Renaissance brought about a strong sense of Renaissance brought about a strong sense of racial pride and desire for social and political racial pride and desire for social and political equality.”equality.”

The Harlem Renaissance was one of the The Harlem Renaissance was one of the catalyst’s for Civil Rights and it gave the catalyst’s for Civil Rights and it gave the African-American’s the pride that they have African-American’s the pride that they have for their ancestry and heritage.for their ancestry and heritage.

Langston HughesLangston Hughes

Langston Hughes was Langston Hughes was the leading poet of the the leading poet of the Harlem Renaissance Harlem Renaissance MovementMovement

Langston Hughes had Langston Hughes had several excellent poems several excellent poems including “The Negro including “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”, Speaks of Rivers”, “The Weary Blues” and “The Weary Blues” and “Negro Dancer”.“Negro Dancer”.

Zora Neale HurstonZora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston was Zora Neale Hurston was the leading female the leading female author of the Harlem author of the Harlem Renaissance.Renaissance.

Her most famous works Her most famous works include include Their Eyes Their Eyes Were Watching GodWere Watching God and and Mules and MenMules and Men..

She was dubbed the She was dubbed the “Queen of the “Queen of the Renaissance.”Renaissance.”

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W.E.B. Du BoisW.E.B. Du Bois

W.E.B Du Bois was the founder of the W.E.B Du Bois was the founder of the National Association for the Advancement of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909.Colored People (NAACP) in 1909.

The NAACP was geared towards advancing The NAACP was geared towards advancing the rights of the black people.the rights of the black people.

This instituted the racial pride among blacks This instituted the racial pride among blacks and ultimately jump started the Harlem and ultimately jump started the Harlem Renaissance.Renaissance.

Claude McKayClaude McKay

Claude McKay was a young Claude McKay was a young poet and author who was poet and author who was influential to the Harlem influential to the Harlem Renaissance.Renaissance.

His works include His works include If We If We Must DieMust Die, , Home to HarlemHome to Harlem, , and and BanjoBanjo..

Known as Jamaica’s Poet Known as Jamaica’s Poet Laureate, all of his other Laureate, all of his other works failed once the works failed once the Harlem Renaissance was Harlem Renaissance was over.over.


Marcus GarveyMarcus Garvey

Marcus Garvey was a Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican-born, black Jamaican-born, black separatist.separatist.

He sparked pride and He sparked pride and brought new interest to brought new interest to African Roots with his African Roots with his “Back to Africa” “Back to Africa” movement.movement.

His movements set the His movements set the structure for the Harlem structure for the Harlem Renaissance to occur.Renaissance to occur.


Global EffectsGlobal Effects

One effect that the Harlem Renaissance had One effect that the Harlem Renaissance had globally was that it paved the way for the Civil globally was that it paved the way for the Civil Rights Movement.Rights Movement.

It also changed the idea of blacks being quiet It also changed the idea of blacks being quiet and obedient, to the idea that they had a voice, and obedient, to the idea that they had a voice, and a very strong voice, and they expressed and a very strong voice, and they expressed this through art and literature this through art and literature

The Effect of the AuthorsThe Effect of the Authors

With a wide array of authors and types of With a wide array of authors and types of literature, the authors were able to convey the literature, the authors were able to convey the message that they would be silent no longermessage that they would be silent no longer

The authors were representing the black The authors were representing the black population in their works, and it sparked other population in their works, and it sparked other blacks to join the cause tooblacks to join the cause too

Summary in the words of Nathan HugginsSummary in the words of Nathan Huggins

““The experience of Harlem in the 1920s was The experience of Harlem in the 1920s was not for naught. It left its mark as a symbol and not for naught. It left its mark as a symbol and a point of reference for everyone to recall… a point of reference for everyone to recall… The very name continued to connote a special The very name continued to connote a special spirit, new vitality, black urbanity, and black spirit, new vitality, black urbanity, and black militancy. Through the activities of the militancy. Through the activities of the writings, the promotion of Negroes in the writings, the promotion of Negroes in the 1920s, Harlem had become a radical focal 1920s, Harlem had become a radical focal point for knowledgeable black men the world point for knowledgeable black men the world over.”over.”

Observations of the Harlem RenaissanceObservations of the Harlem Renaissance

Even though the Harlem Renaissance is overlooked, Even though the Harlem Renaissance is overlooked, it was a very important step for the African-American it was a very important step for the African-American

It had huge implications such as the Civil Rights It had huge implications such as the Civil Rights Movement, and black writers being exposed to a Movement, and black writers being exposed to a world that had always thought of them as unequalworld that had always thought of them as unequal

The Harlem Renaissance also sent out a wake up call The Harlem Renaissance also sent out a wake up call to the rest of the world that blacks were highly to the rest of the world that blacks were highly educated and intellectual people, which before was educated and intellectual people, which before was unheard ofunheard of

http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE01&Nhttp://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE01&NewItemID=TrueewItemID=True

http://www.jcu.edu/harlem/Literature/Page_1.htmhttp://www.jcu.edu/harlem/Literature/Page_1.htm

http://www.journalofantiques.com/Mar03/featuremar03.htmhttp://www.journalofantiques.com/Mar03/featuremar03.htmhttp://www.vintageperiods.com/harlem.phphttp://www.vintageperiods.com/harlem.php

http://www.42explore2.com/harlem.htmhttp://www.42explore2.com/harlem.htm

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmharlem1.htmlhttp://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmharlem1.html

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Harlem Renaissance