Harlem Renaissance

1. Harlem Renaissance

2. Why did African Americans move north in the 1900’s?

3. Great Migration Southern life was violent, segregated, and unfair World War I opened industrial jobs for African Americans Relocation of African Americans to the North

4. Was the North the answer? • Found many jobs and opportunities • Racial tensions were somewhat strong in the North – Why? • Chicago, Illinois 1919 dispute at public beach left 38 dead and 300 injured

5. Life in Harlem • 1920s about 200,000 African Americans lived in Harlem • Became unofficial capital of African American culture and activism in the U.S.

6. W.E.B. Dubois • Well-educated • Founded NAACP • Editor of The Crisis – helped promote arts movement in New York • Arts movement became known as the Harlem Renaissance

7. Marcus Garvey • Jamaican leader who promoted self reliance for African Americans • Black Star Line – promoted trade • Imprisoned 1925-1927 for mail fraud - deported • “Back to Africa” movement

8. Performers and Musicians • Created new opportunities for African American stage performers

9. Paul Robeson • Originally practiced law in NY • Performed in musicals and stage productions including Othello • Shuffle Along - all black musical

10. Louis Armstrong • Jazz- a blend of several different musicals forms in the Lower South • Leader performer at Savoy Ballroom and the Cotton Club • Jazz is not limited to Harlem • “Satchmo”

11. Langston Hughes • Wrote of black defiance, but also wrote of hope • Works recorded the culture of Harlem in the 1920s