The Roaring Twenties: The Harlem Renaissance & Pop Culture

1. The Roaring Twenties: The Harlem Renaissance & Pop Culture Chapter 20.2 & 20.3

2. The Great Migration • Beginning around 1910, Harlem – a neighborhood in upper Manhattan – became a favorite destination for African Americans migrating up from the South • African Americans also migrated to Detroit and Chicago looking for factory work during WWI The Harlem Globetrotters: An exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater, and comedy.

3. African Americans after WWI • While racial tensions were not as pronounced as they were in the South, they were especially severe after WWI, primarily because of job competition • African Americans also had changing expectations of how they ought to be treated – because of their contributions in WWI, many believed they had earned greater freedom/equal opportunities • These two factors led to a great deal of racial violence and race riots

4. W.E.B. DuBois (Again!) • As we learned earlier, W.E.B. DuBoiswas a prominent leader in the black community • Apart from founding the NAACP, DuBois also served as editor of a magazine called The Crisis • The Crisis provided an outlet for African American writers and poets to share their work and discuss race relations • The Crisis also helped promote a great African American arts movement in New York referred to as the Harlem Renaissance

5. Harlem Writers and Poets • Before this era, little African American literature had been published . . . despite this, their literary achievements were astounding • One common theme was defiance and resistance to white prejudice • Langston Hughes • Poet, writer • Wrote of black defiance, but also wrote of hope • James Weldon Johnson • Journalist, lawyer, educator, composer • Leader of the NAACP • His song, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” became the anthem

6. A New Song – Langston Hughes I speak in the name of the black millions awakening to action. Let all others keep silent a moment, I have this word to bring, This thing to say, this song to sing: Bitter was the day when I bowed my back beneath the slaver's whip. That day is past. Bitter was the day when I saw my children unschooled, my young men without a voice in the world, my women taken as the body-toys of a thieving people. That day is past. Bitter was the day, I say, when the lyncher's rope hung about my neck, and the fire scorched my feet, and the oppressors had no pity, and only in the sorrow songs relief was found. That day is past. I know full well now only my own hands, dark as the earth, can make my earth-dark body free. O thieves, exploiters, killers, no longer shall you say with arrogant eyes and scornful lips: "You are my servant, black man - I, the free!" That day is past- for now, in many mouths - dark mouths where red tongues burn and white teeth gleam - new words are formed, bitter with the past but sweet with the dream. Tense, unyielding, strong and sure, they sweep the earth – Revolt! Arise! The black and white world shall be one! The worker's world! The past is done! A new dream flames against the sun!

7. Claude McKay • Published Home to Harlem in 1928 • It was the first novel by a Harlem writer to reach the bestseller list

8. Fine Arts • Artist Aaron Douglas used elements of African design and subject matter in his murals for public buildings, illustrations for publications, and paintings such as “Into Bondage”

9. Performers & Musicians Paul Robeson Josephine Baker • Originally came to New York to practice law, but won fame on the stage • Performed in a number of movies and stage productions • Also had a wonderful singing voice • Performed in the groundbreaking musical show Shuffle Along, which had an all-black cast • Singer • Dancer • Very popular in Europe, where African American performers were more widely accepted than they were in America

10. JAZZ! “Man, if you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.” - Louis Armstrong

11. Jazz Music • Jazz is a musical form which originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions. • Jazz music was not defined by clear rules but by its spirit and creativity • A jazz song might start with a known melody or theme, but much of it was improvised • Composed on the spot

12. Mass Entertainment: Radios • The Radio • In October of 1920, Westinghouse started the first corporate radio station in the U.S. – KDKA • Helped break down the barriers created by distance connecting people and creating an American ‘culture’ • By 1922, the U.S. had 570 radio stations broadcasting all types of programming • Music, news, religious services, sporting events, bedtime stories for children, etc.

13. Mass Entertainment: Movies • In earlier years, most movies were short, simple pieces with no sound • The Birth of a Nation • Highly controversial, innovative film which introduced new techniques and advances in film-making • In the 1920’s, longer movies with sound were introduced, establishing film as an art form; by the end of the decade, Americans were buying 100 million tickets a week

14. An Era of Heroes • Film Stars • Charlie Chaplin • Rudolph Valentino • Clara Bow • “It Girls”, sex symbols • Lucky Lindy • Charles Lindbergh successfully completes the first transatlantic flight • 33.5 hours • Amelia Earhart • The first woman to fly across the Atlantic; later attempted the first flight around the world but disappeared over the Pacific Ocean in an area referred to as . . . ? • Sports Heroes • Red Grange the first college football player to go pro • Helen Willis won thirty-one tennis tournaments and two Olympic gold medals • Bobby Jones was the only golfer to ever win a “Grand Slam” • Four tournaments in the same calendar year • Babe Ruth