Harlem Harlem Renaissance Renaissance

““flowering of Negro flowering of Negro literatureliterature””

Between 1924 when Opportunity Between 1924 when Opportunity magazine hosted a party for black magazine hosted a party for black writers where many white writers where many white publishers were in attendance and publishers were in attendance and 1929, the year of the stock market 1929, the year of the stock market crash and the resulting economic crash and the resulting economic Great Depression. Great Depression.

Most of the participants in this African Most of the participants in this African American literary movement were American literary movement were descendants from a generation whose descendants from a generation whose parents or grandparents had witnessed parents or grandparents had witnessed the injustices of slavery and the gains the injustices of slavery and the gains and losses that would come with and losses that would come with Reconstruction after the American Civil Reconstruction after the American Civil War as the nation moved forward into War as the nation moved forward into the gradual entrenchment of Jim Crow the gradual entrenchment of Jim Crow in the Southern states.in the Southern states.

Attempted to change the racist and Attempted to change the racist and stereotypes that were prevalent. stereotypes that were prevalent.

The Harlem RenaissanceThe Harlem Renaissance was one of primarily was one of primarily African American involvement and an interpersonal African American involvement and an interpersonal support system of black patrons, black owned support system of black patrons, black owned businesses and publications, and so on. But, on the businesses and publications, and so on. But, on the periphery it was supported by a number of white periphery it was supported by a number of white Americans who through genuine altruistic Americans who through genuine altruistic generosity, paternalism, and perhaps a degree of generosity, paternalism, and perhaps a degree of liberal guilt provided various forms of assistance to liberal guilt provided various forms of assistance to these black artists and opened doors for them these black artists and opened doors for them which otherwise would have remained closed to which otherwise would have remained closed to the publicizing of their work to a larger audience the publicizing of their work to a larger audience outside of the black American community. outside of the black American community.

Claude McKayClaude McKay

Enslaved Enslaved

Oh when I think of my long-suffering race, Oh when I think of my long-suffering race, For weary centuries despised, oppressed, For weary centuries despised, oppressed, Enslaved and lynched, denied a human place Enslaved and lynched, denied a human place In the great life line of the Christian West; In the great life line of the Christian West; And in the Black Land disinherited, And in the Black Land disinherited, Robbed in the ancient country of its birth, Robbed in the ancient country of its birth, My heart grows sick with hate, becomes as lead, My heart grows sick with hate, becomes as lead, For this my race that has no home on earth. For this my race that has no home on earth. Then from the dark depths of my soul I cry Then from the dark depths of my soul I cry To the avenging angel to consume To the avenging angel to consume The white man's world of wonders utterly: The white man's world of wonders utterly: Let it be swallowed up in earth's vast womb, Let it be swallowed up in earth's vast womb, Or upward roll as sacrificial smoke Or upward roll as sacrificial smoke To liberate my people from its yoke! To liberate my people from its yoke!

Langston HughesLangston Hughes

PoetPoet PlaywrightPlaywright Writer of both fiction &Writer of both fiction &

Non-fiction booksNon-fiction books

Examples…Examples…

CHILDREN'S RHYMESCHILDREN'S RHYMES

By what sendsBy what sendsthe white kidsthe white kidsI ain't sent:I ain't sent:I know I can'tI know I can'tbe President. What be President. What don't bugdon't bugthem white kidsthem white kidssure bugs me:sure bugs me:We know We know everybodyeverybodyain't free. ain't free. Lies written downLies written downfor white folksfor white folksain't for us a-tall:ain't for us a-tall:Liberty And Liberty And JusticeJustice —  — Huh! Huh! For All?For All?

CROSSCROSS

My old man's a white old manMy old man's a white old manAnd my old mother's black.And my old mother's black.If ever I cursed my white old If ever I cursed my white old manmanI take my curses back.I take my curses back.If ever I cursed my black old If ever I cursed my black old mothermotherAnd wished she were in hell,And wished she were in hell,I'm sorry for that evil wishI'm sorry for that evil wishAnd now I wish her wellAnd now I wish her wellMy old man died in a fine big My old man died in a fine big house.house.My ma died in a shack.My ma died in a shack.I wonder were I'm going to I wonder were I'm going to die,die,Being neither white nor Being neither white nor black? black?

Zora Neale HurstonZora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale HurstonZora Neale Hurston (January 7, (January 7, 1891– January 28, 1960) was an 1891– January 28, 1960) was an American folklorit, anthropologist, American folklorit, anthropologist, and author during the time of the and author during the time of the Harlem Renaissance. Of Hurston's Harlem Renaissance. Of Hurston's four novels and more than 50 four novels and more than 50 published short stories, plays, and published short stories, plays, and essays, she is best known for her essays, she is best known for her 1937 novel 1937 novel Their Eyes Were Watching Their Eyes Were Watching GodGod..

ART of the Harlem Renaissance

Music of the Harlem RenaissanceMusic of the Harlem Renaissance

Jazz gained popularity during this time…Jazz gained popularity during this time…

Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington were Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington were two of the most popular jazz musicianstwo of the most popular jazz musicians

EXAMPLES…EXAMPLES…

Your Assignment..Your Assignment..Create art, music, or poetry that expresses Create art, music, or poetry that expresses

your culture and heritage.your culture and heritage.You may create music but it must be presented You may create music but it must be presented

Wednesday. Wednesday. (10pts with opportunity for bonus)(10pts with opportunity for bonus)

This should express hurdlesThis should express hurdles’’ that that your your people people have gone through or what life is have gone through or what life is like as a…like as a…

This art will tell an audience This art will tell an audience ““what itwhat it’’s like s like to be YOUto be YOU””

Post on edmodo when finishedPost on edmodo when finished