{{ The Harlem The Harlem RenaissanceRenaissance

A movement of artists and activists who focused on African American culture and political issues.

In Harlem between 1919 and the early 1940s, a rebirth of African American art, music, and literature established a community based on pride and hope. The whole nation benefited from African American expression in music, literature, poetry, and art.

The Harlem RenaissanceThe Harlem Renaissance

Common themes begin to emerge: Common themes begin to emerge: alienation, marginality, the use of folk alienation, marginality, the use of folk material, the use of the blues tradition, material, the use of the blues tradition, the problems of writing for an elite the problems of writing for an elite audience. audience.

The HR was more than just a literary The HR was more than just a literary movement. It included racial movement. It included racial consciousness, "the back to Africa" consciousness, "the back to Africa" movement led by Marcus Garvey, movement led by Marcus Garvey, racial integration, the explosion of racial integration, the explosion of music, particularly jazz, spirituals and music, particularly jazz, spirituals and blues, painting, dramatic revuesblues, painting, dramatic revues

The Harlem The Harlem RenaissanceRenaissance

Manhattan Island, New York City

Take the “A” Train to HarlemTake the “A” Train to Harlem

Listen to the music Duke Ellington’s theme song Duke Ellington’s theme song

was “Take the A Train”was “Take the A Train”

Famous People Mentioned Famous People Mentioned in in Harlem: A PoemHarlem: A Poem

Boxers:Boxers: Jack Johnson Jack Johnson

Joe Louis Joe Louis

Sugar Ray RobinsonSugar Ray Robinson

Writers:Writers:

Langston HughesLangston HughesZora Neal Zora Neal

HurstonHurstonNella LarsonNella LarsonRichard WrightRichard Wright

Famous People Mentioned Famous People Mentioned in in Harlem: A PoemHarlem: A Poem

Christopher MyersChristopher MyersIllustrator of Illustrator of Harlem: A PoemHarlem: A Poem, , a Caldecott Honor Book in 1998a Caldecott Honor Book in 1998