The Harlem RenaissanceThe Harlem Renaissance

I. African American Voices in the I. African American Voices in the 1920s1920s

A. The Move from South to NorthA. The Move from South to North– 1. The Great Migration happened 1. The Great Migration happened

because Blacks moved to northern cities because Blacks moved to northern cities in search of jobs. in search of jobs.

B. African American GoalsB. African American Goals– 1. NAACP-Founded by W.E.B DuBois.1. NAACP-Founded by W.E.B DuBois.– 2. 2. Crisis Crisis MagazineMagazine– 3. James Weldon Johnson led the NAACP 3. James Weldon Johnson led the NAACP

in fight for anti lynching laws.in fight for anti lynching laws.– 4. Represented a more militant voice.4. Represented a more militant voice.

C. Marcus Garvey and the UNIAC. Marcus Garvey and the UNIA– 1. 1. UUniversal niversal NNegro egro IImprovement mprovement

AAssociationssociation– 2. Led by Marcus Garvey2. Led by Marcus Garvey– 3. Wanted to create a separate black 3. Wanted to create a separate black

society.society.– 4. Garvey encouraged blacks to move 4. Garvey encouraged blacks to move

to Africa.to Africa.

II. Harlem Renaissance in New II. Harlem Renaissance in New YorkYork

A. DefinitionA. Definition– 1. The Harlem Renaissance was a 1. The Harlem Renaissance was a

literary and artistic movement literary and artistic movement celebrating African-American culture.celebrating African-American culture.

B. African American WritersB. African American Writers– 1. Claude McKay wrote militant verses 1. Claude McKay wrote militant verses

urging African Americans to resist urging African Americans to resist prejudice and discrimination and the prejudice and discrimination and the pain of life in black ghettos.pain of life in black ghettos.

– 2. Jean Toomer’s book 2. Jean Toomer’s book CaneCane described described life for blacks in both the North and life for blacks in both the North and SouthSouth

3. Langston Hughes poems 3. Langston Hughes poems described the difficult lives of described the difficult lives of working class African Americans.working class African Americans.

4. Zora Neale Hurston wrote about 4. Zora Neale Hurston wrote about the lives of poor unschooled blacks the lives of poor unschooled blacks and celebrated the values of a and celebrated the values of a people who had survived slavery people who had survived slavery through their ingenuity and strength.through their ingenuity and strength.

C. African American PerformersC. African American Performers– 1. Paul Robeson was a dramatic actor who 1. Paul Robeson was a dramatic actor who

experienced great prejudice because of his experienced great prejudice because of his color and the fact that he supported color and the fact that he supported Communism and the Soviet Union.Communism and the Soviet Union.

– 2. Louis Armstrong joined Joe “King” Oliver 2. Louis Armstrong joined Joe “King” Oliver and formed the Creole Jazz Band.and formed the Creole Jazz Band.

– 3. Armstrong became famous due to his 3. Armstrong became famous due to his outstanding rhythm and ability to improvise.outstanding rhythm and ability to improvise.

4. Duke Ellington led his ten piece 4. Duke Ellington led his ten piece orchestra at the Cotton Club.orchestra at the Cotton Club.5. One of America’s greatest 5. One of America’s greatest composers.composers.6. “Moon Indigo” and “Sophisticated 6. “Moon Indigo” and “Sophisticated Lady”Lady”7. Bessie Smith was the highest-paid 7. Bessie Smith was the highest-paid black artist in the world.black artist in the world.8. World famous vocalist.8. World famous vocalist.

Paul Robeson as “OthelloPaul Robeson as “Othello