The Harlem Renaissance

Black History Month provides an opportunity to discover more about the evolution of black culture. The transition of African Americans from rural lives as slaves in the southern states to a predominantly urban life in northern cities began in the early 20th century. Racial tensions, discrimination, low wages, and unemployment in the southern states caused a mass exodus of African Americans to the urban North. Many African Americans migrated to large cities like Chicago, Illinois, and New York City.

In the 1920s, Harlem, a suburb of New York City, became firmly established as a haven for African Americans. In what was commonly referred to as the "Harlem Renaissance," African-American culture flourished in this section of New York and became a Mecca for African-American artists, writers and politicians. Music, poetry, literature, art and religion all mixed in Harlem and established a sophisticated yet bohemian urban-identity for African Americans around the country.

The Harlem Renaissance produced such diverse talents as Langston Hughes, Josephine Baker, Claude McKay, Archibald Motley and James Weldon Johnson. This renaissance not only inspired African American culture but also had a great impact on the mainstream "white" culture. White people would visit the Cotton Club and other popular nightclubs to hear African American musicians and artists, but segregation was still rigidly enforced.

While the stage was filled only with African American talent, the audience was predominantly white. Separate nightclubs catered to African American audiences. While African American culture continued to flourish, the Harlem Renaissance ended with the economic crisis brought on by the Great Depression.

Assign students to create a report of at least 150 words, or a presentation of at least two minutes and seven slides, cites at least three resources, and addresses the following essential questions for critical thinking (you can add or substitute others):

• What are three areas of artistic accomplishment and a example of famous artists and performers in those areas?
• What parts of the Harlem Renaissance culture continues today as part of American culture?
• What were some of the events that cast a negative image on Harlem and the Renaissance?
• How did racial inequality impact the work and lives of the artists of this era?
• What part did the Harlem Renaissance play in improving the civil rights of African Americans?

Click Topics tab > The Roaring '20s (c. 1920 - 1929) > Harlem Renaissance

Use our custom ProQuest models for written and PowerPoint-style reports.

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