HARLEM RENAISSANCE

Took Place in the 1920’s A cultural flowering Took place in Harlem Involved writers, musicians, poets, and visual artists. Following WWI, this was a time of

change and living in excess to break free from war time ideologies

People began to invest more time and money into leisure activities

The Jazz Age

Black musicians performed in “white only” clubs, performing African American style Jazz for white clientele

Jazz music began to influence everyone

It became a source of inspiration to visual artists

Jacob Lawrence Arrived to Harlem in 1930 after the

height of the Harlem Renaissance Did paintings about heritage of his

people and their struggle for equality Uses angular, hard edge style

One of the Largest Race Riots occurred in east St. Louis

James Van Der Zee

Photographer of African American life He would take studio portraits, weddings, pool halls, barber shops,

sports teams, and celebrities Van Der Zee wasn’t “discovered” until the age

of 82 and held a show at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in a show called “Harlem

on my Mind”. He became an instant celebrity and began photographing people like Bill Cosby and Muhammed Ali