Bell Ringer # 2 5/2/12

1. Bell Ringer # 2 5/2/12 • According to last night’s homework, what was the Harlem Renaissance?

2. Entry # 4 – Understanding the Harlem Renaissance May 2, 2012

3. Overview • Growth and establishment of African-American culture. • Roots/Origins: • Great Migration • Industrial Revolution • World War I • Volatile racial climate

4. Characteristics • Desire for fullcitizenship • Self-determined identity • Self-determined culture • Celebration of African-American heritage

5. Music • blending elements of African music, work songs, hymns, dances, and marches • music was tailored to suit the occasion • Themes: • importance of individuality • requires the mastery of expression and technical skill • a vehicle for profoundly personal expression through improvisation and composition

6. Elements of the Music • Rhythm – two or more rhythms at the same time • Melody – single tone • Harmony – combining of elements • Instrumental sound – saxophone / trumpet

7. Art • Goal: • to capture African-American movement, energy, and soul • revitalizing black culture with pride • individual and collective sense of dignity • Combat the image of: • being a second class citizen • racism and discrimination

8. Themes: • Slavery • Great Migration • Racism • Celebrating culture

9. Study the photograph and describe what you see based on the following categories: • 1. People 2. Objects3.Actions/Activities Based on what you have observed above, list one characteristic that: • Matches one of the GOALS for art and HOW. • Matches one of the THEMES and HOW. What questions does this photograph raise in your mind?

10. Study the photograph and describe what you see based on the following categories: • People • Objects • Actions/Activities Based on what you have observed above, list one characteristic that: • Matches one of the GOALS for art and HOW. • Matches one of the THEMES and HOW. What questions does this photograph raise in your mind?

11. Lines 1-3 create a relationship between speaker and subject. Hughes suggests that the blues offer an experience for not only the artist but also the community. The Weary Blues Langston Hughes (1923) Droning a drowsy syncopated tune, Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon, I heard a Negro play. Down on Lenox Avenue the other night By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light   He did a lazy sway .... He did a lazy sway .... To the tune o' those Weary Blues. With his ebony hands on each ivory key He made that poor piano moan with melody. O Blues! Lenox Avenue is a main street in Harlem, which in terms of the geography of New York, is North, or uptown. Because Harlem was home mainly to African Americans and the parts of New York City south of Harlem (referred to as "downtown") were populated mainly by whites, if the speaker were to perceive Lenox Avenue as "up" from his place of origin, we might assume that he is white. 

12. America by Claude McKay Although she feeds me bread of bitterness,And sinks into my throat her tiger's tooth,Stealing my breath of life, I will confessI love this cultured hell that tests my youth! Her vigor flows like tides into my blood,Giving me strength erect against her hate.Her bigness sweeps my being like a flood.Yet as a rebel fronts a king in state, I stand within her walls with not a shredOf terror, malice, not a word of jeer.Darkly I gaze into the days ahead,And see her might and granite wonders there, Beneath the touch of Time's unerring hand,Like priceless treasures sinking in the sand. . In this poem written as a sonnet, McKay shows both positive and negative feelings about America. The first stanza accuses, yet he loves his country. McKay goes on to talk of his love / hate relationship with America. The mother image deepens the reader’s sympathy for his character. The last couplet infers that wonderful possibilities are in America (equality for all) but are still hidden.

14. The Harlem Renaissance succeeded in destroying some racist stereotypes through brilliant works in song, dance, paint and print.