The Harlem Renaissance

1. The Harlem Renaissance:
A Century of Inspiration
Troy Hayes
Instructor Riordan
Hst 102-E02

2. Thesis
●
The Harlem Renaissance had a huge impact on art
and culture a century after the era.
●
The expression of creativity and an unapologetic
demand for civil freedom paved the way for future
African American artist to express themselves and
influenced mainstream culture for years to come.

3. Background
●
After WWI, a mass migration of African Americans
out of the south to the North and Midwest for more
opportunity and expression as freed people. This was
know as The Great Migration. The Great Migration
led to a concentration of educated middle-class
African Americans in cities as such as New York City,
Los Angeles and Chicago. This led to an era
responsible for one of the biggest explosions of
cultural expression, art, music and literature.

4. Events Leading Up to the
Harlem Renaissance
●
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People (NAACP) was created in 1909 by Ida B. Wells-
Barnett, W.E.B. Du Bois and Mary White Ovington.
– The Organization aimed to protect the civil rights of
African Americans.
– The NAACP also worked to end discrimination and
segregation.
– In 1910, the NAACP releases their first issue of their
magazine “The Crisis.”

5. Events Leading Up to the
Harlem Renaissance
●
The Great Migration takes place in 1916.
– Many African Americans migrate from the South to urban
areas in the North and south.
– Harlem, in New York City becomes the highest
concentration of African Americans in the world with over
100,000 people living in a few square miles radius.
– Harlem became the epicenter for many African American
artist, writers, musicians and activist.

6. Events Leading Up to the
Harlem Renaissance
●
The percentage of African Americans living in the
North and West grew drastically by the 1930s.

7. Events Leading Up to the
Harlem Renaissance
●
Marcus Garvey publishes a newspaper that promotes
African American culture called Negro World in
1918
●
In 1919, Jessie Redmon Fauset is appointed as the
NAACP’s magazine The Crisis and give writers such
as Langston Hughes a platform to have a true black
voice in society.

8. The Beginnings of the
Harlem Renaissance
●
In 1920, the Harlem Renaissance was in full effect.
●
This era was also known as the New Negro
Movement or the Negro Renaissance.
●
Artistic expression was used to fight oppression.
●
Harlem was the epicenter of the Renaissance and it’s
cultural awakening.

9. Everyday life in 1920s Harlem
●
As the Renaissance was beginning to accelerate the was still
a divide in equality.
●
Many African Americans were unable to find work inside
Harlem and had to find employment outside of the area.
●
Musicians were allowed to perform at the night clubs but
were not permitted to attend as patrons.
●
Overpopulation in Harlem also created a perfect
environment for scarce employment opportunity and
violence
●

10. The Night Clubs of Harlem

11. The Night Clubs of Harlem
●
Gave African Americans destinations for night life.
●
Helped many black musicians develop successful
careers.
●
Provided some African Americans an opportunity at
entrepreneurship.
●
Secrecy provided a way around prohibition.

12. The Night Clubs of Harlem
●
Although many black musicians were invited to
perform at white clubs in Harlem, they were not
allowed to attend the clubs. This sparked the creation
attempts of African Americans starting their own night
clubs. During prohibition, many of these clubs were a
huge success. These night clubs also gave way for
many notable musicians to emerge.

13. The Night Clubs of Harlem
The Cotton Club
●
Formerly known as the Douglas
Theatre
●
Located at 644 Lenox Avenue from
1921-1936 before its first closure
due to prohibition violations. Then
relocated on 47th Street off
Broadway
●
Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway
became headliners in it’s later years.
●
Had all black performances but did
not allow African Americans to
attend as patrons.

14. The Night Clubs of Harlem
Connie’s Inn
●
Located at 165 131st
Street.
●
Headlined by Fats
Waller.
●
Attended by national
figure and celebrities
●
Parties went form dusk
to dawn.

15. The Night Clubs of Harlem
Apollo Theater
●
Located on 125th street.
●
World renowned for is
Wednesday night,
Amateur Night.
●
One of the staples of
black entertainment
during the Renaissance.
●
Still open to this day.

16. The Music of the
Harlem Renaissance

17. The Music of the
Harlem Renaissance
●
The Harlem Renaissance became an era of innovation
in the genre of jazz.
●
The roots of the music from the Renaissance started
with theater music, blues, and ragtime music.
●
The innovations of the Renaissance led to the
development of swing and Bebop.
●
The Great Migration made New York the priority
destination for black musicians.

18. The Music of the
Harlem Renaissance –Duke
Ellington
●
Born in Washington D.C.
●
Headliner of the Cotton Club.
●
Most notable for his jazz orchestra performances
although he frequented the piano.
●
The most prominent musician from the Renaissance.

19. The Music of the
Harlem Renaissance- Cab Calloway
●
Prominent vocalist.
●
Headliner and band director of the Cotton Club.
●
Responsible for giving Ella Fitzgerald her “Big
break.”
●
Secured many movie roles during his career.

20. The Music of the
Harlem Renaissance- Unique to
America and Evolved Future Generations
●
The Harlem Renaissance innovated music across the
globe.
●
The music from this era gained respect from white
musicians and still has an impact in today’s music.
●
Many genres of music of today evolved from the
efforts of the Harlem Renaissance.
●
Hip Hop, R&B, and Rock’N’Roll evolved from the
Bebop Era.

21. The Music of the
Harlem Renaissance
●
Examples:
– Cab Calloway - Minnie the Moocher
●
https://youtu.be/8mq4UT4VnbE
– Louis Armstrong - When The Saints Go Marching In
●
https://youtu.be/wyLjbMBpGDA
– Music of the Harlem Renaissance
●
https://youtu.be/0v_nUpPu3cU
– Duke Ellington's Harlem Nocturne
●
https://youtu.be/uIkekMoEQY4

22. The Literature of the
Harlem Renaissance

23. The literature of the
Harlem Renaissance
●
Harlem was also the heart of a black intellectual shift in
society.
●
The burst of literature from the Harlem Renaissance was
coined as the New Negro Movement.
●
This shift in African American intellectualism also paved
the way for the Civil Rights Movement that would follow
decades later.
●
Many poets, writers, and journalist emerge from the
Renaissance.

24. The Literature of the
Harlem Renaissance
●
The spark for the literature movement of the Renaissance
started with the publishing of the NAACP’s The Crisis
magazine.
●
The magazine gave many prominent authors a platform
to express an authentic black voice.
●
Much of the bodies of work that emerged from the Era
focused on black pride and pro-African heritage.
●
The literature from this era fought to break black
stereotypes and racism.

25. The Literature of the
Harlem Renaissance
●
Langston Hughes was a notable poet from the
Harlem Renaissance.
●
Through his works, he condemned black
discrimination.
●
Langston helped innovate the poetry style of jazz
poetry.
●
Langston focused much of his career on black-
consciousness

26. The Literature of the
Harlem Renaissance
●
Media:
– Literary Icons You NEED to Know From the Harlem Renaissance (feat.
Princess Weekes)
●
https://youtu.be/hEJS39QuEAs
– Black Excellist: The Harlem Renaissance Explained
●
https://youtu.be/8dnEHQhK_Eg
– Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance: Crash Course Literature
215
●
https://youtu.be/ir0URpI9nKQ
– "Fragment," Poem by Jessie Redmon Fauset
●
https://youtu.be/b7ic5pMmejk

27. Living during the Era
●
I would have greatly appreciated living during the
Harlem Renaissance. Even though the era had its
hardships like any other time period, it was a very
prosperous time. The efforts made during the
Renaissance still linger today. It would have been a
prolific era to have contributed to. I believe that all
those who participated a had a vision for the type of
society they dreamed of living in and expressed
themselves wholeheartedly of the type of change that
they wanted.

28. The Influences and Changes the
Harlem Renaissance Initiated for
the Future
●
The milestones achieved during the Harlem
Renaissance still linger in society today. The Harlem
Renaissance ignited the fight for civil rights. The era
also innovated music that is still popular today. This
time period not only changed the way African
Americans viewed themselves, but how other races
and culture across the world viewed the black
experience in America.

29. The Art of the
Harlem Renaissance

30. The Art of the
Harlem Renaissance
●
Many African American artist before the Harlem
Renaissance did not focus on black subjects. But soon
after West Africa became a huge inspiration for artist
during the Era. Many artist focused their attention of
African sculptures, printmaking and photography.
Much of this influences remains today and can be seen
on exhibits are museums across the world.

31. The Art of the
Harlem Renaissance
●
A big focus on the art from this era was Egyptian
designs.
●
Aaron Douglas was an important figure from this era.
– Douglas was coined the “Father of African American arts”
– Douglas developed a modernist style of African American
folk style art.

32. The Art of the
Harlem Renaissance
●
The are from this time period gave an abstract visual
representation of the African American identity and
culture. This visual art reshaped societies views on
African American Culture. All of which was an effort
to reverse the effects of the Jim Crow era stereotypes.

33. The Art of the
Harlem Renaissance
●
“Realization” By Sculptor Augusta Savage

34. The Art of the
Harlem Renaissance
●
“Amistad Murals” by Hale Aspacio Woodruff

35. The Art of the
Harlem Renaissance
●
“Future Expectations” by Photographer James
VanDerZee

36. Conclusion
●
The Harlem Renaissance was nothing short of a time of black
excellence that still ruminates today. This era gave African
Americans the confidences to freely express themselves and
paved the way for generations to come. Harlem became the
epicenter for an artistic, literary and cultural revolution of
African American history and reshaped the image of the black
community. For the first time in American history, African
Americans were viewed as complex intellectuals with an
important voice. The individuals who participated during this
era deserve endless praise for their countless efforts to provide
an unapologetic voice and personal expression.

37. Work Cited
● Hilliard, Kenneth B. “The Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute.” Yale New Haven Teacher
Institute, 1 Sept. 1989, teachersinstitute.yale.edu/curriculum/units/1989/1/89.01.05.x.html.
●
Hutchinson, George. “Harlem Renaissance Timeline.” Encyclopædia Britannica,
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 9 Aug. 1999, www.britannica.com/summary/Harlem-
Renaissance-Timeline.
●
Johnston, Jessica. “Artists of the Harlem Renaissance.” An Archive for Virtual Harlem, 29
Apr. 2015, scalar.usc.edu/works/harlem-renaissance/artists.
●
Kutzinski, Vera M. “The Worlds of Langston Hughes: Modernism and Translation in the
Americas.” JSTOR, 1 Jan. 2012, www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.cttq42qx?refreqid=search-
gateway.
●
Soto, Michael. “Mapping the Harlem Renaissance in the Americas.” A Companion to the
Harlem Renaissance, 2015, pp. 441–455., doi:10.1002/9781118494110.ch26.
●
Wintz, Cary D. “Harlem and the Renaissance: 1920–1940.” Women Artists of the Harlem
Renaissance, 2014, pp. 1–21., doi:10.14325/mississippi/9781628460339.003.0002.