Introduction toIntroduction toTHE HARLEM RENAISSANCETHE HARLEM RENAISSANCE

RECONSTRUCTIONRECONSTRUCTIONAfter the Civil war, attempts were made to redress the injustices of After the Civil war, attempts were made to redress the injustices of slavery, including Reconstruction laws and constitutional amendments.slavery, including Reconstruction laws and constitutional amendments.

Reconstruction efforts waned in the late 1870's.Reconstruction efforts waned in the late 1870's.

Life in the South was still extremely difficult for African Americans:Life in the South was still extremely difficult for African Americans:

Jim Crow laws: segregated public facilities, transportation, and Jim Crow laws: segregated public facilities, transportation, and schoolsschools

Ku Klux Klan: culture of violence most graphically displayed by Ku Klux Klan: culture of violence most graphically displayed by public lynchings public lynchings

Sharecropping system: tenant farming forces on African Americans Sharecropping system: tenant farming forces on African Americans a difficult existence that is nearly as bad as slaverya difficult existence that is nearly as bad as slavery

THE GREAT MIGRATION THE GREAT MIGRATION

Between 1910 and 1970, 6.5 million African Americans migrated out Between 1910 and 1970, 6.5 million African Americans migrated out of the Southof the South

Most of this movement took place between the two world warsMost of this movement took place between the two world wars

Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia were primary destinations; the Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia were primary destinations; the West later became a destination as wellWest later became a destination as well

The North was viewed as the promised land because of better civil The North was viewed as the promised land because of better civil and economic opportunities and economic opportunities

Continued industrialization and slowing immigration rates led to a Continued industrialization and slowing immigration rates led to a demand for factory workers, who received significantly higher pay demand for factory workers, who received significantly higher pay than those in the South than those in the South

Despite opportunities present in the North, African Despite opportunities present in the North, African Americans still encountered prejudice and racismAmericans still encountered prejudice and racism

Commonly called "de facto segregation," as Commonly called "de facto segregation," as opposed to "de jure segregation"opposed to "de jure segregation"

Plessy vs. Ferguson Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896): separate but equal(1896): separate but equal

Life in the North presented its own challenges:Life in the North presented its own challenges:

Poor living conditions Poor living conditions

Dangerous work Dangerous work

environments environments

Blues MusicBlues MusicEvolution of blues music tied to Evolution of blues music tied to The Great MigrationThe Great Migration

As blues musicians moved north, As blues musicians moved north, the blues adapted to the more the blues adapted to the more sophisticated urban sophisticated urban environments.environments.

Lyrics took up urban themesLyrics took up urban themes

New instruments provide New instruments provide rhythmic and emotional intensityrhythmic and emotional intensity

Chicago played greatest role in Chicago played greatest role in development of urban bluesdevelopment of urban blues

Big Bill BroonzyBig Bill Broonzy((Migrated from Migrated from MississippiMississippi to to

Chicago) Chicago)

When I was born into this world, this is what When I was born into this world, this is what happened to mehappened to me

I was never called a man, and now I'm fifty-I was never called a man, and now I'm fifty-threethree

I wonder whenI wonder whenI wonder whenI wonder when

I wonder when will I get to be called a manI wonder when will I get to be called a manDo I have to wait till I get ninety-three?Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three?When Uncle Sam called me, I knowed I'd When Uncle Sam called me, I knowed I'd

be called a real McCoybe called a real McCoyBut I got none of this, they just called me But I got none of this, they just called me

soldier boysoldier boyI wonder whenI wonder whenI wonder whenI wonder when

I wonder when will I get to be called a I wonder when will I get to be called a manman

Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three?Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three?

When I got back from overseas, that When I got back from overseas, that night we had a ballnight we had a ball

Next day I met the old boss, he said Next day I met the old boss, he said "Boy get you some overalls""Boy get you some overalls"

I wonder whenI wonder whenI wonder whenI wonder when

I wonder when will I get to be called I wonder when will I get to be called a mana man

Do I have to wait till I get ninety-Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three?three?

I've worked on the levee camps, and I've worked on the levee camps, and axer gangs tooaxer gangs too

Black man's a boy, don't care what Black man's a boy, don't care what he can dohe can do

I wonder whenI wonder whenI wonder whenI wonder when

I wonder when will I get to be called I wonder when will I get to be called a mana man

Do I have to wait till I get ninety-Do I have to wait till I get ninety-three?three?

They said I was uneducated, my They said I was uneducated, my clothes were dirty and tornclothes were dirty and torn

Now I've got a little education, but Now I've got a little education, but I'm still a boy right onI'm still a boy right on

I wonder whenI wonder whenI wonder whenI wonder when

I wonder when will I get to be called I wonder when will I get to be called a mana man

"When Will I Get to "When Will I Get to Be Called a Man"Be Called a Man"

Blues music and poetry became closely Blues music and poetry became closely tied:tied:

• Blues poem- stems from African Blues poem- stems from African American oral tradition and musical American oral tradition and musical tradition of the blues tradition of the blues

• Themes of struggle and despair, but Themes of struggle and despair, but also resilience and determination in also resilience and determination in the face of hardshipthe face of hardship

Sterling A. Sterling A. BrownBrown Langston Langston

HughesHughesJames Weldon JohnsonJames Weldon Johnson

"The Weary Blues""The Weary Blues"By Langston HughesBy Langston Hughes

Droning a drowsy syncopated tune,Droning a drowsy syncopated tune,Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon,Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon,

I heard a Negro play.I heard a Negro play.Down on Lenox Avenue the other nightDown on Lenox Avenue the other night

By the pale dull pallor of an old gas lightBy the pale dull pallor of an old gas light He did a lazy sway . . .He did a lazy sway . . . He did a lazy sway . . .He did a lazy sway . . .

To the tune o' those Weary Blues.To the tune o' those Weary Blues.With his ebony hands on each ivory keyWith his ebony hands on each ivory key

He made that poor piano moan with melody.He made that poor piano moan with melody. O Blues!O Blues!

Swaying to and fro on his rickety stoolSwaying to and fro on his rickety stoolHe played that sad raggy tune like a musical He played that sad raggy tune like a musical

fool.fool. Sweet Blues!Sweet Blues!

Coming from a black man's soul.Coming from a black man's soul. O Blues!O Blues!

In a deep song voice with a melancholy toneIn a deep song voice with a melancholy toneI heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan—I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan—

"Ain't got nobody in all this world,"Ain't got nobody in all this world, Ain't got nobody but ma self.Ain't got nobody but ma self. I's gwine to quit ma frownin'I's gwine to quit ma frownin'

And put ma troubles on the shelf."And put ma troubles on the shelf."

Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor.the floor.

He played a few chords then he sang He played a few chords then he sang some more—some more—

"I got the Weary Blues"I got the Weary Blues And I can't be satisfied.And I can't be satisfied.

Got the Weary BluesGot the Weary Blues And can't be satisfied—And can't be satisfied—

I ain't happy no mo'I ain't happy no mo' And I wish that I had died."And I wish that I had died."

And far into the night he crooned that And far into the night he crooned that tune.tune.

The stars went out and so did the moon.The stars went out and so did the moon.The singer stopped playing and went to The singer stopped playing and went to

bedbedWhile the Weary Blues echoed through While the Weary Blues echoed through

his head.his head.He slept like a rock or a man that's dead.He slept like a rock or a man that's dead.

THE HARLEM RENAISSANCETHE HARLEM RENAISSANCETime of intense creativityTime of intense creativity

Celebration of African American Celebration of African American heritageheritage

Centered in Harlem, a Centered in Harlem, a predominantly black predominantly black neighborhood in NYCneighborhood in NYC

Writers used their work to capture Writers used their work to capture the African American experience the African American experience and express pride in their cultureand express pride in their culture

Usually remembered for Usually remembered for literature, but music and visual literature, but music and visual arts also connected arts also connected

1919-1919-19291929

I, too, sing America. I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the They send me to eat in the kitchen kitchen When company comes, When company comes, But I laugh, But I laugh, And eat well, And eat well, And grow strong. And grow strong.

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I'll be at the table I'll be at the table When company comes. When company comes. Nobody'll dare Nobody'll dare Say to me, Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen," "Eat in the kitchen," Then. Then.

Besides, Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed— And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.I, too, am America.

"I, "I, Too"Too"By Langston By Langston

HughesHughes

Major Players in the Harlem Major Players in the Harlem RenaissanceRenaissanceLangston Langston

HughesHughesBorn in Mississippi but moved a lot as a childBorn in Mississippi but moved a lot as a child

Published "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" shortly after his Published "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" shortly after his high school graduation high school graduation

Attended Columbia University and Lincoln UniversityAttended Columbia University and Lincoln University

Attached to Harlem, which he called "the great dark Attached to Harlem, which he called "the great dark city"city"

Claude Claude McKayMcKay

Jamaican-born poet who moved to the U.S. in 1912 and Jamaican-born poet who moved to the U.S. in 1912 and was shocked by American racismwas shocked by American racism

Known as the first and most militant voice of the Harlem Known as the first and most militant voice of the Harlem RenaissanceRenaissance

Lived in the Soviet Union, France, Spain, and Morocco, Lived in the Soviet Union, France, Spain, and Morocco, but returned the U.S.and became a citizenbut returned the U.S.and became a citizen

Major Players in the Harlem Major Players in the Harlem RenaissanceRenaissanceCountee Countee

CullenCullenUnofficial lay adopted by the minister of one of a Unofficial lay adopted by the minister of one of a Harlem's biggest congregations Harlem's biggest congregations

Attended NYU and Harvard; Published in several major Attended NYU and Harvard; Published in several major American literary magazinesAmerican literary magazines

Preferred classical verse forms rather than rely on Preferred classical verse forms rather than rely on rhythms and idioms of black American heritagerhythms and idioms of black American heritage

Married the daughter of W.E.B. Du BoisMarried the daughter of W.E.B. Du BoisZora Neale Zora Neale

HurstonHurstonJoined a traveling theatrical company that landed her in Joined a traveling theatrical company that landed her in NYC during the Harlem RenaissanceNYC during the Harlem Renaissance

Attended Howard College, Barnard College, and Attended Howard College, Barnard College, and ColumbiaColumbia

Writing celebrates African American culture of the rural Writing celebrates African American culture of the rural SouthSouth

Major Players in the Harlem Major Players in the Harlem RenaissanceRenaissance Louie Louie

ArmstrongArmstrongBorn to a poor family in New Orleans; music Born to a poor family in New Orleans; music opportunities landed him in Chicago and then NYCopportunities landed him in Chicago and then NYC

One of the most appreciated jazz artists of all time; One of the most appreciated jazz artists of all time; helped foster the acceptance of jazz music and African helped foster the acceptance of jazz music and African American music American music

Duke Duke EllingtonEllington

Born into middle-class family in DC and became Born into middle-class family in DC and became engrossed in fine arts at an early ageengrossed in fine arts at an early age

Moved to NYC and began playing Broadway nightclubsMoved to NYC and began playing Broadway nightclubs

Originator of big-band jazzOriginator of big-band jazz

Harlem Renaissance Harlem Renaissance ProjectProject

Choose a poem or song from the Harlem Choose a poem or song from the Harlem RenaissanceRenaissance

Prepare a 10-15 minute lesson in order to help the Prepare a 10-15 minute lesson in order to help the class better understand the poemclass better understand the poem

Use the Guidelines for Analyzing Poetry Use the Guidelines for Analyzing Poetry (MyHomework)(MyHomework)

You may work in groups of 2-3 students You may work in groups of 2-3 students

This project will be worth 2 quiz gradesThis project will be worth 2 quiz grades