1. The Harlem Renaissance
Harlem = Primarily African American neighborhood in NYC
Renaissance = rebirth or revival

2. Harlem Renaissance
Art, music, and writing all flourished in Harlem at this time (20’s – 30’s) the people in the photo are prominent artists of the time

3. About Modernism: 1914-1939 WWI shatters faith in the American Dream
People migrating to the cities/overcrowding
Women gain more social/political power
Prohibition in full swing
Great period of prosperity, followed by the Great Depression
The Harlem Renaissance is considered part of the Modern literature movement

4. How did the Harlem Renaissance change or influence American culture?
Read the information provided about the Harlem Renaissance and Zora Neale Hurston. Answer the following questions once you have completed your notes.
What was happening culturally and economically in the 1920’s that allowed the Harlem Renaissance to flourish?
How did the Harlem Renaissance change or influence American culture?
List the 5 most interesting facts from Hurston’s biography.

5. About the Harlem Renaissance
Rise in African American cultural expression in NYC from 1920 – 1939
Celebrated the African American experience in music, art and literature
Created exciting new forms of music (jazz; more syncopated rhythms, scat)
Ended when the Great Depression depleted the financial support available to young artists

6. Harlem Renaissance Literature
Literature focused on black life
Departure from the slave literature that previously dominated black writing
Addressed issues of race, class, religion, and gender
Affirmation that black dialects were as legitimate as standard English
Struggled with keeping authentic voice while making their work commercial

7. Harlem Newspaper
Harlem Journal
Portrait of Langston Hughes

8. Harlem Renaissance Writers
Countee Cullen (poet who was influenced by the English Romantic writers)
Langston Hughes (poet who used unconventional forms, free verse, and the rhythms of jazz in his work)
Zora Neale Hurston (wrote fiction, folklore, and musical revues on black culture, and inspired the work of Alice Walker and Toni Morrison.)

9. Romare Beardon

10. Zora Neale Hurston ( )
Born to poor family; began supporting herself as a young teen
Published first story at 20; moved to NYC to attend Barnard College.
Developed interest in folklore and anthropology
Criticized for celebrating life of African Americans
Died broke in a Florida welfare home

14. More on Their Eyes…
Written in three different voices: poetic voice, narrator’s voice and Janie’s voice
Frame Story: Begins at the end

15. Their Eyes Were Watching God
Novel Structure’s 4 units:
Janie’s early years with grandmother
Nanny’s story, Janie’s loss of childhood, and brief 1st marriage.
Marriage to Joe Starks (mule incident)
Tea Cake and the Everglades.

16. Their Eyes Were Watching God
Eatonville:
Actual town 5 miles north of Orlando
Oldest surviving municipality in U.S.
Over 100 black towns founded between ; 12 remain including Eatonville.

17. Their Eyes Were Watching God
The Book…
Opens with a focus on judgment.
Novel is about Janie’s search for unconditional love.
Search results in her independence.

18. Their Eyes Were Watching God
Watch for references to…
Sun
Horizon
Mules
Time
Death
Dreams
Pear tree and blossoms