The Harlem Renaissance

MAST HSUS HIS – Period 4Ms. Richardson

What led to the Harlem Renaissance?

From 1910 to From 1910 to 1930, African-1930, African-Americans left Americans left their southern their southern homes. Racism homes. Racism

and lack of and lack of economic economic

opportunities led opportunities led them to leave them to leave

the South. They the South. They were searching were searching for better lives.for better lives.

They migrated They migrated to urban to urban

centers like centers like New York, New York,

Chicago, Chicago, Detroit, and Detroit, and Cleveland.Cleveland.

What is The Harlem Renaissance? – It was a time of great

development of art, literature, music and culture in the African-American community.

– It is also known as (aka) the New Negro Movement.

Harlem Renaissance

• New cultural identity

• Works celebrated AA culture & spoke to their experiences.

• Urged AA to take pride in themselves & culture.

Key Figures • Langston Hughes (poet & author)*

• Louis Armstrong (musician)

• Marcus Garvey (political leader)

• W. E. B. Du Bois (author, civil rights leader)

• Jacob Lawrence (painter)

How did it impact history?• Helped to redefine how Americans and the

world understood African American culture.

• It integrated black & white cultures, and marked the beginning of a black urban society.

• Set the stage for the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s.

Main Concepts and Ideas• Developing African-American intellect &

art would challenge both racism and stereotypes, bringing blacks to a new level of equality.

• They routinely fell back on concepts such as marginality, alienation and the effects of slavery in their works.

I, too, sing America - Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen. When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong.

Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen,“ Then.

Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

Themes• Identity• Pride• Courage• Consciousness• Unity• Migration• Racism• Tradition

• Community• Fear• Opportunity• Education• Rebirth• Culture• Hope• Injustice