The Great Migration & The Harlem Renaissance 1

What is the Great Migration? Started in the beginning of the 1900’s Started in the beginning of the 1900’s Involved the mass exodus of millions of African Americans from the South to the North Involved the mass exodus of millions of African Americans from the South to the North Over 1 million were estimated to have migrated north Over 1 million were estimated to have migrated north Greatly influenced the Harlem Renaissance Greatly influenced the Harlem Renaissance 2

Why migrate? Freedom Freedom Treatment Treatment Crop infestations Crop infestations Technological Innovations Technological Innovations World War I World War I Racial backlash by whites Racial backlash by whites Job Opportunities Job Opportunities To prove their identity To prove their identity 3

Why Go North??? Fill up jobs Fill up jobs Political Freedoms Political Freedoms Better life Better life 4

Advantages and Disadvantages Advantages Advantages –Freedom –Identity –Better chances for education –Formation of large communities Disadvantages Disadvantages –People killed –Racism in north often just as bad as south –Poor schooling for large communities –False perception of “lots of opportunity” 5

How was the North Affected? Population increase Population increase Economy Economy Not welcomed in the beginning, even from some African Americans Not welcomed in the beginning, even from some African Americans 6

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How did the Great Migration affect the Harlem Renaissance? Music Music Art Art Food Food Civil Rights Civil Rights Power of the People Power of the People 8

The Harlem Renaissance It was a cultural nationalistic movement caused by the GREAT MIGRATION It was a cultural nationalistic movement caused by the GREAT MIGRATION "originally called the “NEW NEGRO MOVEMENT” "originally called the “NEW NEGRO MOVEMENT” "spiritual coming of age" in which the black community was able to seize upon its "first chances for group expression and self determination." "spiritual coming of age" in which the black community was able to seize upon its "first chances for group expression and self determination." 9

Impact of the H.R. Black Migration, south to north, changed their image from rural to urban, from peasant to sophisticate Black Migration, south to north, changed their image from rural to urban, from peasant to sophisticate A rich source for racial imagination and it freed the blacks from the establishment of past condition A rich source for racial imagination and it freed the blacks from the establishment of past condition 10

Major Contributors to the H.R. Langston Hughes Langston Hughes –Writer: poetry, novels, music, short stories W.E.B. DuBois W.E.B. DuBois –Socialist, Public Speaker Louis Armstrong & Billie Holiday Louis Armstrong & Billie Holiday Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong –Musicians Zora Neale Hurston Zora Neale Hurston –Writer: novels, poetry 11

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