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Erasing Stereotypes: Challenges During the Harlem Renaissance. What is the “Norm”?. What is the American Dream? What does a “typical family” or household look like?—draw a picture. Learned Stereotypes. Dick and Jane readers (1930s-1970s). Traditions of Vaudeville and Blackface.
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Erasing Stereotypes: Challenges During the Harlem Renaissance
What is the “Norm”? • What is the American Dream? • What does a “typical family” or household look like?—draw a picture
Learned Stereotypes • Dick and Jane readers (1930s-1970s)
Traditions of Vaudeville and Blackface • The Vaudeville theater started In the 1830s. It included a series of short skits, all of which played upon a stereotype. The tradition started in Italy. When it moved to the US, new characters were added. These performances supported racist stereotypes
A Girl Like Me Video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17fEy0q6yqc • As you watch this video, write down what stereotypes you hear
“Passing” • Trying to fit into the “norm” • White stereotypes of beauty or speech are adopted in order to fit in • “Oreos” • Examples: Straightening hair, dying hair blonde, bleaching skin, speaking standard English. • For writers during the Harlem Renaissance, this also meant conformity of writing styles
Harlem Renaissance Writers • The Harlem Renaissance began in the 1920s and was a time when African American arts and music flourished. Blues and Jazz came out of this movement and became a huge hit. The artists and writers challenged many racist stereotypes. • Some Harlem Renaissance writers were widely accepted, but this may have been because they were noted for using traditional styles and metaphors. • Harlem Renaissance writing eventually found its own voice as the African American community embraced their own style and culture.
African American Cultural Influences on Harlem Writers • Oral traditions • Call and response songs, plantation songs • Spirituals • Jazz and Blues • African American sermons • Southern Black dialect
Harlem Renaissance Project • Choose an artist, poet, musician, or writer from the Harlem Renaissance to research. Display their accomplishments in a short video (to be put up on YouTube). • Their biography should include • artifacts of what he/she is well known for (music, pictures, poems, etc) • Pictures of the person • A brief description of important events in his/her life