Harlem Renaissance

The New Negro Movement

OriginsOrigins

• Great Migration- the migration of African Americans from the south to the north during WWI

• Many of these people had parents or grandparents who had been slaves.

• Many knew of the difficulties of Reconstruction

• Great Migration- the migration of African Americans from the south to the north during WWI

• Many of these people had parents or grandparents who had been slaves.

• Many knew of the difficulties of Reconstruction

First StageFirst Stage

• Began in the late 1910s.• 1917- “Three Plays for a Negro

Theater”- African American actors instead of “blackface” white actors.

• Has been called “the most important single event in the entire history of the Negro in American Theater.

• Began in the late 1910s.• 1917- “Three Plays for a Negro

Theater”- African American actors instead of “blackface” white actors.

• Has been called “the most important single event in the entire history of the Negro in American Theater.

PoetryPoetry

• Claude McKay in 1919, wrote “If We Must Die”, a militant sonnet• By end of WWI he was describing the

reality of contemporary negro life in America

• Langston Hughes, “I, Too, Sing America”

• Claude McKay in 1919, wrote “If We Must Die”, a militant sonnet• By end of WWI he was describing the

reality of contemporary negro life in America

• Langston Hughes, “I, Too, Sing America”

MusicMusic

• The Jazz Age, this music was born from old slave songs

• Started in the South and migrated north to Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, & then New York

• Jazz was “negro” music, but whites loved it

• The Jazz Age, this music was born from old slave songs

• Started in the South and migrated north to Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, & then New York

• Jazz was “negro” music, but whites loved it

MusiciansMusicians

• Billie Holiday• Bessie Smith• Ella Fitzgerald• Count Basie• Duke Ellington• Louis Armstrong

• Billie Holiday• Bessie Smith• Ella Fitzgerald• Count Basie• Duke Ellington• Louis Armstrong

The ClubsThe Clubs

• The Savoy Ballroom• The Cotton Club• The Apollo Theater

• The Savoy Ballroom• The Cotton Club• The Apollo Theater

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

• Was an overt racial pride that through art, literature, & music the pervading racism & stereotypes could be challenged

• Used art to prove their humanity & demand for equality

• Helped lay the foundation of the Civil Rights Movement following WWII

• Was an overt racial pride that through art, literature, & music the pervading racism & stereotypes could be challenged

• Used art to prove their humanity & demand for equality

• Helped lay the foundation of the Civil Rights Movement following WWII