Harlem Renaissance
The Move North
Change in location reflected by change in attitude about themselves, “Black is beautiful”
Known as the Great Migration
Left south because of racial violence and economic difficulties, plus economy was bad in South. Many lost money, jobs, farms, New start in the North, North cities did not always welcome the influx of blacks
NAACP – founded in 1909, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Membership doubled by 1920
Fought for protection of African American rights, especially anti lynching laws
Represented the new, more militant voice of African Americans
Still faced threats and discrimination
Marcus Garvey
Jamaican immigrant, founded the UNIA ( Universal Negro Improvement Association), black nationalist group
African Americans build a separate society
Promote African American businesses to get followers
African Americans needed an independent nations (esp. looking at Africa)
His ideas were appealing, but support declined when he was convicted of mail fraud and jailed, deported, U.S. followers lost influence
Legacy: black pride, economic independence, and reverence for Africa
Harlem Renaissance – New York
1920’s Harlem: world’s largest black urban community, from South and West Indies, Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico
suffered from overcrowding, unemployment, poverty
African American Writers
Well educated middle class
Celebrated African heritage and folklore
Wrote about being black in white world
Claude McKay – poet, Jamaican immigrant, resist prejudice and discrimination
Langston Hughes – poet, Missouri born, difficult everyday lives of working class African Americans
Zora Neale Hurston – woman writer, portrayed lives of poor, unschooled Southern blacks
But failed to show real problems of Harlem
Ex. High mortality rates, neglect, unemployment problems
African American Performers
“Shuffle Along” – black musical comedy
Songs won popularity among white audiences, several singers won fame
Blacks began entering stage performances and winning fame and audiences
African Americans and Jazz
Jazz – born in New Orleans- blend of instrumental ragtime and vocal blues
Louis Armstrong – trumpetist, most influential musician in history of jazz, improvization, syncopation ( irregular accents and rythms)
Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington – jazz pianist and composer, formed own band
Bessie Smith – blues singer, highest paid black artist in world in 1927
Also in Europe
Josephine Baker – dancer, singer, comedienne, also volunteered with Red Cross in WWII, spied for French underground
