Developments in African American Identity

1. Developments in African American Identity

2. The Great Migration – movement of African Americans from the south to the north, beginning during World War I. Black populations grew significantly in urban areas. They began to express themselves in new ways through art and literature. Initial conflicts: The Chicago Race Riots of 1919 – Let’s do an in class reading about this.

3. Chicago police officers guard a street corner during the 1919 Chicago Race Riots

4. A white gang looking for blacks during the 1919 Chicago Race Riots

5. A crowd gathers at the site of the stoning that set off the riots.

6. The Harlem Renaissance – Flowering of African American arts in the 1920’s

7. Jazz – Style of music that was often improvisational. Developed by many African American musicians during the Harlem Renaissance. Louis Armstrong Duke Ellington

8. Duke Ellington and his Orchestra - 1929

9. The Cotton Club – Famous 1920s night club.

11. Bessie Smith - popular blues singer – type of music that evolved from “African American spirituals.”

12. Paul Robeson – African American actor. Drama/Theater

13. Let’s take a look at some art .... what do each of these paintings say about African American identity?

14. The Harlem Renaissance

15. Harlem Renaissance painting by Aaron Douglas. “A man and woman in Africa dance to the beat of drums as concentric circles of light emphasize the heat and rhythm of their movements. A sculpture floating in a central circle above the dancers' heads suggests the importance of spirits in African culture.” www.eyeconart.net/history/Harlem.htm

16. Aaron Douglas painting: “Song of the Towers represents the African-Americans' climb from slavery to self-emancipation in the cities of America.” www.eyeconart.net/history/Harlem.htm

18. Aaron Douglas, Idylls of the Deep South, 1934

19. Poetry – Let’s read (and in some cases listen) to some poems written by prominent African American authors. Answer the following questions about each poem in the margins/next to the poem… • What is the primary message of the poem? • What emotions does the author appeal to? • In what ways does the poem relate to the changing identity of African Americans? Langston Hughes Claude McKay

20. Discrimination Against African Americans – The rise of the KKK – racist organization that promoted violence against African Americans. Rose in popularity in the 1920s as white people in the north began to feel threatened by the changing status of African Americans.

21. KKK March in Washington D.C. - 1926

22. KKK Parade - Southern California

23. KKK Rally in Boulder, Colorado

24. KKK Cross Burning

25. Cartoon from the Chicago Defender - 1925

26. African American Political Developments: NAACP – National Association for the Advancement of Colored People – Continued to lobby for laws against lynchings. Marcus Garvey – Leader of the Black Nationalist movement, which told promoted black pride and urged African Americans to return to Africa to resettle.