The Harlem RenaissanceAn OverviewAn Overview

The Harlem Renaissance Period – End of WWI-Mid 1930’sPeriod – End of WWI-Mid 1930’s Harlem, New YorkHarlem, New York

A neighborhood in northern district of A neighborhood in northern district of NYCNYC

Common Themes Notion of “Two-ness”Notion of “Two-ness”

Divided awareness of one’s identityDivided awareness of one’s identity WEB De Bois- a founder of NAACP WEB De Bois- a founder of NAACP

wrote: wrote: “One ever feels his two-ness, an “One ever feels his two-ness, an American, a Negro, two souls, two thoughts, American, a Negro, two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled stirrings; two warring ideals two unreconciled stirrings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.”keeps it from being torn asunder.”

Common Themes

Alienation Alienation Marginality Marginality Use of folk materialUse of folk material Use of the bluesUse of the blues

More than a Literary Movement Included racial consciousnessIncluded racial consciousness ““Back to Africa” movementBack to Africa” movement Racial integrationRacial integration Explosion of musicExplosion of music Jazz, spirituals, bluesJazz, spirituals, blues PaintingPainting DramaDrama Philosophical thoughtPhilosophical thought

Billie Holiday

HR brought the Black experience to the general American consciousness Black MigrationBlack Migration South to NorthSouth to North Rural to UrbanRural to Urban Peasant to sophisticatePeasant to sophisticate Created international networking for BlacksCreated international networking for Blacks Spirit of self-determination Spirit of self-determination

Harlem Renaissance Significance Name, more than place, became Name, more than place, became

synonymous with new vitality, Black synonymous with new vitality, Black urbanityurbanity

Racial focal point all over the worldRacial focal point all over the world Stood for urban pluralismStood for urban pluralism

Harlem Renaissance Significance

Alain Locke wrote: “The peasant, the Alain Locke wrote: “The peasant, the student, the businessman, the professional student, the businessman, the professional man, artist, poet, musician, adventurer and man, artist, poet, musician, adventurer and worker, …each group has come with its worker, …each group has come with its own special motives …but their greatest own special motives …but their greatest experience has been the finding of one experience has been the finding of one another.”another.”