The Harlem Renaissance

A movement of A movement of African-African-

American American culture in culture in literature, literature,

dance, music, dance, music, and art and art

during 1919 – during 1919 – mid-1930s.mid-1930s.

Resulted from the Great Migration following the First World War, in which many African-Americans moved to Northern urban cities.

Originated in Harlem, Originated in Harlem, New York CityNew York City

LiteratureLiterature•Harlem Renaissance was a primarily literary movement.

•This was the first time publishers and critics took African-American writing seriously.

By Langston Hughes

By Zora N. Hurston

LiteratureLiterature

• Writing related back to African-American’s roots in Africa.

• Writing included poetry, novels, and magazines.

• Described the reality of being racially discriminated against.

By Sherwood Anderson

Langston Hughes: poet, novelist, short story writer, columnist.

The Crisis: official magazine of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

DanceDance

• Swing dance Swing dance became very became very popular in the popular in the Harlem Harlem Renaissance.Renaissance.

• Popular dance Popular dance clubs: the Savoy clubs: the Savoy Ballroom and the Ballroom and the Cotton Club.Cotton Club.

The Cotton Club

Savoy Ballroom

MusicMusic

• Jazz and Blues became very popular.Jazz and Blues became very popular.• The Apollo Theatre was a venue where The Apollo Theatre was a venue where

many musicians started their careers, many musicians started their careers, including:including:

Billie Holiday

Ella Fitzgerald

Sarah Vaughn

Jelly Roll Morton: Ragtime Pianist

Louis Armstrong: Jazz Trumpeter and Singer

Duke Ellington: Jazz Composer, Pianist, and Bandleader

ArtArt► Art at this time reflected African American daily Art at this time reflected African American daily

life from many different perspectives.life from many different perspectives.► Artists made bold, stylized portraits of African Artists made bold, stylized portraits of African

American people.American people.► Some art inspired by jazz music of the time:Some art inspired by jazz music of the time:

Jeunesse by Palmer Hayden

The Library by Jacob Lawrence

DramaDrama

► Plays and shows Plays and shows rejected African rejected African American American stereotypes by stereotypes by having black actors having black actors convey complex convey complex human emotions.human emotions.

An encyclopedia of African American Theatre by David Krasner

► Theatre started with Theatre started with Three Plays for a Three Plays for a Negro Theatre Negro Theatre at at the Chatham the Chatham Garden Theatre in Garden Theatre in NYC.NYC.

Acclaimed as “the most important single event in the entire history of the Negro in American Theatre” by James Weldon Johnson in 1917

Chatham Garden Theatre

Decline of Harlem Decline of Harlem RenaissanceRenaissance

The Great The Great Depression created Depression created economic pressure economic pressure on organizations like on organizations like the National the National Association for the Association for the Advancement of Advancement of Colored People Colored People (NAACP), which was (NAACP), which was a main supporter of a main supporter of the renaissance.the renaissance.

THE END!