Harlem Renissance

Harlem Renissance

By Delaney Solomon

Open Ended

What is the Harlem Renissance?

African Americans worked to make their own identiy when it came to written pieces. ​They strived to stray from the standard traditonal form of writing and instead write about the injustices that African Americans faced

​

​Literature

The Crisis which was the main magazine for the NAACP, recgonized him earl and his poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" became his signature poem. He spoke directly to Black people which was unusual for the time period.

Langston Hughes

​

Her novel "​Their Eyes Were Watching God" was incredibly popular but she was criticized for writing "too black" She used Southern Black Dialect and wrote about the misery of African Americans in America

Zora Neale Hurston

​

Grew up in a predominantley white​ neighborhood. He is most well known for his poem "Heritage" and is noted for his lyrical writing sytle but had conflicting views about his heritage and upbringing

Countee Cullen

​

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statement is true about Langston Huges?

• He had a lyrical type of writing

• He wrote directly to the Black communities and people

• He wrote "Their Eyes Were Watching God"

• He grew up in a white neighborood

Poll

Who do you think had hte biggest impact?

• Langston Hughes

• Zora Neale Hurston

• Countee Cullen

Jazz vocals mixed with Blues Rhythm became extremely popular and drew new types of crowds to shows. People liked that no two songs would sound the same. New York City had a large impact on Jazz music, incorporating a piano for the first time in Harlem, this helped to make wealthy Blacks enjoy Jazz music. As it increased in popularity it became more and more attractive to white people.

Jazz and Blues

Music

Fill in the Blank

The __________ made wealthy individuals enjoy Jazz music more

She rose to fame when she was 18 years old and was one of the leading Jazz Vocalist and was also one of the first African American Women to perform with a white orchestra.

Billie Holiday

​

Considered the King of Swing and one of the best drummers of his time. He began his own band at the age of 17 which became the main band at a popular swing ballroom ​

Chick Webb

​

Grew up in New Orleans to a poor family and by age ​of 28 he was playing on the Broadway Stage. He played at multiple ballrooms and clubs and is one of the most notable musicians during this time period

Louis Armstrong

​

Multiple Choice

Which musician was known for Swing music

• Chick Webb

• Louis Armstrong

• Billie Holiday

• None of the options

Multiple Choice

Music during this time period was a mix of?

• Pop and Jazz

• Pop and Blues

• Blues and Jazz

• Pop and Rock

Art

Many of the artists followed Cubism that was popular with Art Deco during the time period. Many of the African American artists also found inspiration in West African sculptures that were becoming popular. ​Many artists began block printing and drew off of African cultural as well as the culture of the South and the culture they had created in America

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was NOT used in art during the Harlem Renissance

• Cubism

• West African Influence

• Block Printing

• Bold Colors

He was most well known as a painter who embraced the "New Negro" movement. He dipicted African American life in the murals he painted throughout buildings in New York City

Aaron Douglas

She painted landscapes but was barred from competition due to her race and would enter under her white friends names. She was recgonized ​in Ebony magazine and her paintings have hung in the White House

​​Lois Mailou Jones

​

Found fame at the age of 23 for a 60 panel painting he completed. He used Cubism and depicted the Great Migration in his paintings. He always included a sentence which made all of his paintings into a narrative

​​Jacob Lawrence

​

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is true about Jacob Lawernece

• He didn't become famous until his 40s

• He always added a sentnece to his artwork

• He used abstract art

• He painted mostly in murals on buildings

Theatre

Theater and acting exploded after the creation of Three Plays for a Negros Theatre which featured only Black actors, singers, and dancers. Most of the plays focused on very deep human emotions as well as combating black stereotypes. The Savoy Ballroom (Chick Webb!!) and The Apollo theatre usually held black focused performances. Langston Hughes wrote a number of plays and musicals.

Subject | Subject

Open Ended

Why do you think theatre was so important to the African American community at the time?

Got her big break in 1921 at the age of 26. She starred in shows that were produced, written, and directed by African Americans. She danced uniquely and had a high pitched voice making her recgonizable. She captivated black and white audiences when she stared in the show Blackbird

Florence Mills

Earned the nickname Bojangles at an early age though no one is sure why. He was the first African American dancer that was allowed to dance solo and also rose to fame whiel staring in Blackbird. He refined tap dancing and stared on stage and TV as well as live in clubs

Bill Robinson

Stared mostly in films that tried to break black stereotypes. She was seen as one of the most versatile actress's of her time. She was part of the Lafayette Players and stared in films by famous writers such as Oscar Wilde

Evelyn Preer

Fill in the Blank

Bill Robinson and ______ ______ both stared in the film Blackbird

Open Ended

Between Art, Literature, Theatre, and Music whihc do you think has been the most influnetial in African American culture and why?