Harlem Renaissance

1. Harlem Renaissance • In 1904 several middleclass African American families moved away from the decaying conditions of Black Bohemia of midtown into the newly-built suburb of Harlem. This initiated a move north of educated African Americans and a foothold into Harlem. In 1910 a large block along 135th and Fifth Ave was bought up by various African American realtors and a church group. These purchases caused a "white flight" and lowered real estate prices.

2. A

3. B 1920 1990

4. From the reading and pictures, answer the following questions: • PART A 1. What is white flight and what caused it? 2. Why did Blacks move north? • Picture A • 3. How is this picture different from today? Write down at least 5 ways that it may be different. • Picture B • 4. What do you think happened to the neighborhood in the bottom picture? Why do you think it looks more run down than the top picture?

5. Harlem Renaissance • There were various patrons of the arts, both black and white, including the very wealthy A'Lelia Walker who ran an influential salon, the Dark Tower from her home, Countee Cullen (the Romantic poet), Nora Thurston Zeale (anthropologist), Langston Hughes (playwright and poet) Three main political figures kept the hopes of freedom for African Americans alive and made Harlem a political hotbed of activities. The three figures were W.E.B. Dubois, the James Weldon Johnston and finally the charismatic Black Nationalist Marcus Garvey.

6. Harlem Renaissance • As World War I approached, a shortage of labor ensued at the generous supply of European unskilled labor ceased to flow into New York City. From the southern states came vast numbers of African Americans attracted not only by the prospect of paid labor but an escape from the inherent inequities and blatant institutional racism of the South.

7. Harlem Renaissance • PART B • 1.Choose one of the major players (anyone in red) of the movement. Research and write a 10 sentence biography about their life.

8. The Arts… • PART C • The Harlem Renaissance gave way to many new forms of expression for African Americans. • 1.View the next three slides that detail Harlem Renaissance art. Choose a piece of art that you like and analyze it using the worksheet.

9. A farm family is up with the chickens and the daily ritual of hard work has begun, from gathering water to plowing the fields. Their one-room house, shaded by a single tree, is as humble as the family is stoic in dealing with the cyclical nature of their rural existence in the South. Based on strong contrasts in color and the energy of diagonals, this dynamic composition banishes any impression of an idyllic pastoral scene and delivers instead powerful commentary on black labor, inspired by Johnson's childhood experiences as a native of rural South Carolina. • William H. Johnson • Early Morning Workabout 1940oil38 1/2 x 45 5/8 in.Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation

10. During the 1930s, Sargent Johnson executed several copper masks and sculptures based on African examples. Johnson explained his intent saying: “It is the pure American Negro I am concerned with, aiming to show the natural beauty and dignity in that characteristic lip and that characteristic hair, bearing, and manner; and I wish to show that beauty not so much to the White man as to the Negro himself.” • Sargent Johnson • Maskabout 1930–35copper on wood base15 1/2 x 13 1/2 x 6 in.Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of International Business Machines Corporation

11. Street Life, Harlem celebrates the people and dynamic energy of Harlem in the late 1930s. Johnson had many opportunities to experience its night life during the four years he taught art at the Harlem Community Art Center. These were vibrant years in Harlem, when positive portrayals of everyday life strengthened the sense of community that was such an important aspect of African American culture • William H. Johnson • Street Life, Harlemabout 1939--40oil45 3/4 x 38 5/8 in.Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation

12. Langston Hughes PART D 1. Write down 5 facts about Langston Hughes. Click on his picture to take you to a website about him. How did he contribute to the Harlem Renaissance?

13. Langston Hughes PART E • Listen to Langston Hughes’ poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” • 1. As the poem is read… write down your thoughts, emotions, ideas of what the poem means.

14. Duke Ellington PART F • Open PBS Biographies: Duke Ellington. You are going to listen to three jazz tunes by Duke Ellington, a famed musician and composer of the Harlem Renaissance. Click on 3 of the audio samples on the website. • 1. When you’re finished listening to the song clips write what song you listened to and describe the mood that each of the musical selections evokes.

15. Overview PART G • 1. What were you able to learn about the Harlem Renaissance by listening to jazz music? Write a 12 sentence paragraph that explains the Harlem Renaissance. • ... by listening to an essay? • ... by looking at paintings? • ... by listening to a poem? • ... by reading historical data? • ... by browsing a website?