Harlem Renaissance

The Great Migration From 1910 – 1930, African Americans moved away from the South and into the North East, Mid West and West – Escaping racial discrimination – New job opportunities in Northern factories Most ended up in large cities like Cincinnati, Detroit, Philadelphia and New York – Like most minorities, African Americans lived near each other in small neighborhoods of large cities

Where is Harlem? What is the Harlem Renaissance? African Americans were able to reinvent an ethnic culture Artists of the time began to speak about being African American in the U.S.

W. E. B. Du Bois Co-Founded the NAACP – National Association for the Advancement of Colored People First African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard Wrote The Souls of Black Folks (1903), which inspired others to begin to write their experiences "I do not care…for any art that is not used for propaganda.”

Marcus Garvey Civil rights activist in Jamaica – Founded the UNIA, which worked to end racial injustices worldwide Eventually came to be associated with the Pan-African movement – A movement to have all people of African decent living in America move to Africa – Bought the Black Star Line cruise boat, but was never able to get enough support

“The Jazz Age” Jazz began in New Orleans, as large brass bands would play in the street – Improved music style, upbeat and celebratory – Brought North during the Great Migration Jazz brought all races together with white customers frequently coming to see African American performers in New Jazz clubs – Speakeasies also featured jazz performers as part of the appeal

Louie Armstrong One of the first to play up the solo performances Widely regarded as the most influential musician of the 1920s – Continued to play until the 1960s One of the first popular African American musicians – Known for his improved solos and deep voice

Duke Ellington Lead the jazz orchestra in Harlem’s Cotton Club – One of the first to play jazz music with a large band orchestra Wrote over 1,000 original compositions – Often wrote with soloists in mind Credited with making jazz an “art”

Authors of the Renaissance The Harlem Renaissance is seen as a mostly literary movement – The poetry, plays, novels, and stories of the time are still the most recognizable from the time Authors focused on issues facing African Americans at the time – hostility experienced by minorities in American society – Tried to uplift those dealing with racism and stereotyping Often incorporated other types of cultural expression like music

Langston Hughes Focused his work on the working class African American life – Did not agree with DuBois and Garvey on assimilation Popularized Jazz Poetry – Poetry said aloud to jazz music Most Famous Work: "The Negro Speaks of Rivers"

Zora Neale Hurston Moved to Harlem in 1925, at the peak of the renaissance Began working with Hughes and other writers to bring attention to the African American artists Most Famous Work: Their Eyes Were Watching God

Josephine Baker Moved to New York City in the 1920s to work as a dancer Gained popularity and recognition for complex dances – Toured Paris and gained international fame Relocated to Paris and stared in her own shows, began her musical career Success inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald, Pablo Picasso, and Christian Dior