4.6 Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural explosion celebrating Black art, literature, and music in 1920s-30s America. Centered in Harlem, New York, it emerged as African Americans sought self-expression and challenged racial discrimination through creative pursuits.

Women played pivotal roles in shaping the movement, often confronting both racial and gender barriers. Writers like Zora Neale Hurston and Nella Larsen, artists such as Augusta Savage, and performers like Bessie Smith left lasting impacts on American culture.

Origins of Harlem Renaissance

• Harlem Renaissance marked a significant cultural movement celebrating African American art, literature, and music in the 1920s and 1930s
• Emerged as a response to racial discrimination and a desire for self-expression among Black Americans
• Centered in Harlem, New York, but influenced Black culture across the United States

Great Migration impact

Top images from around the web for Great Migration impact

• 

  Palmer Hayden - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Harlem Renaissance - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  UnityandDivision2 - Harlem Renaissance View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Palmer Hayden - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Harlem Renaissance - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Great Migration impact

• 

  Palmer Hayden - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Harlem Renaissance - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  UnityandDivision2 - Harlem Renaissance View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Palmer Hayden - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Harlem Renaissance - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Mass movement of African Americans from rural South to urban North seeking better opportunities
• Created concentrated Black communities in Northern cities, fostering cultural exchange
• Increased Black population in Harlem from 50,000 in 1914 to 200,000 by 1920
• Brought diverse African American experiences and traditions to urban centers

Post-World War I context

• African American soldiers returned from WWI with heightened expectations for equality
• Disillusionment with continued discrimination fueled artistic and intellectual pursuits
• Economic boom of the 1920s provided opportunities for Black artists and entrepreneurs
• Rise of the "New Negro" movement emphasized racial pride and self-reliance

Harlem's cultural significance

• Became known as the "Black Mecca" and "Capital of Black America"
• Attracted talented African Americans from across the country and Caribbean
• Nightclubs and speakeasies like the Cotton Club showcased Black talent
• Fostered collaboration between artists, writers, and musicians
• Served as a hub for political and social activism

Key female figures

• Women played crucial roles in shaping the Harlem Renaissance, often challenging gender norms
• Female artists addressed intersectionality of race and gender in their work
• Many faced discrimination within the movement but persevered to create lasting legacies

Writers and poets

• Zora Neale Hurston authored "Their Eyes Were Watching God" and collected African American folklore
• Nella Larsen explored racial identity in novels like "Passing" and "Quicksand"
• Jessie Redmon Fauset, known as the "midwife of the Harlem Renaissance," wrote novels and edited The Crisis magazine
• Gwendolyn Bennett contributed poetry and short stories to various publications
• Georgia Douglas Johnson hosted influential literary salons in Washington D.C.

Visual artists

• Augusta Savage sculpted busts of prominent African Americans and taught art to youth
• Lois Mailou Jones painted vibrant scenes of African and Caribbean life
• Laura Wheeler Waring created portraits of notable Black figures for the Harmon Foundation
• Selma Burke sculpted the portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt used on the dime
• Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller produced sculptures addressing African American history and social issues

Musicians and performers

• Bessie Smith, known as the "Empress of the Blues," popularized classic blues music
• Josephine Baker achieved international fame as a dancer and singer in Paris
• Florence Mills starred in Broadway shows and advocated for racial equality
• Ethel Waters excelled in vaudeville, jazz, and dramatic acting
• Ma Rainey, "Mother of the Blues," influenced future generations of blues singers

Literary contributions

• Literature of the Harlem Renaissance explored African American experiences and challenged racial stereotypes
• Writers experimented with form and style, incorporating elements of African American oral traditions
• Many works addressed themes of identity, racism, and the complexities of Black life in America

Poetry and prose

• Langston Hughes' poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" connected African American identity to ancient civilizations
• Claude McKay's sonnet "If We Must Die" became an anthem of resistance against racial oppression
• Countee Cullen's poetry explored the tension between racial identity and artistic expression
• Jean Toomer's "Cane" blended poetry and prose to depict Southern Black life
• Anne Spencer's nature-inspired poetry addressed themes of race and feminism

Novels and short stories

• Nella Larsen's "Passing" examined racial identity and the practice of light-skinned Blacks passing as white
• Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God" celebrated Black vernacular and female empowerment
• Wallace Thurman's "The Blacker the Berry" confronted colorism within the Black community
• Jessie Redmon Fauset's "Plum Bun" explored the experiences of a young woman passing for white
• Rudolph Fisher's "The Conjure-Man Dies" pioneered the genre of African American detective fiction

Essays and criticism

• Alain Locke's anthology "The New Negro" defined the philosophical foundations of the Harlem Renaissance
• W.E.B. Du Bois wrote extensively on race, politics, and culture in The Crisis magazine
• Zora Neale Hurston's anthropological essays documented African American folklore and traditions
• James Weldon Johnson's "Black Manhattan" chronicled the history and culture of Black New York
• Marita Bonner's essay "On Being Young-a Woman-and Colored" addressed intersectionality of race and gender

Visual arts movement

• Visual artists of the Harlem Renaissance sought to create a distinctly African American aesthetic
• Many artists incorporated African motifs and celebrated Black beauty in their work
• Visual arts played a crucial role in challenging racist stereotypes and promoting racial pride

Painting and sculpture

• Aaron Douglas created murals and illustrations featuring stylized silhouettes and African-inspired imagery
• Palmer Hayden depicted everyday scenes of African American life in his paintings
• William H. Johnson developed a folk art style to represent Black experiences
• Richmond Barthé sculpted powerful bronze figures celebrating Black physicality
• Archibald Motley Jr. painted vibrant scenes of urban Black social life

Photography and illustration

• James Van Der Zee documented Harlem life through portrait and street photography
• Aaron Douglas illustrated books and magazines with his distinctive Art Deco-influenced style
• Miguel Covarrubias created caricatures and illustrations for Vanity Fair and The New Yorker
• Winold Reiss produced portraits of Harlem Renaissance figures for Alain Locke's "The New Negro"
• Roy DeCarava later photographed Harlem scenes, influencing the visual representation of Black life

Textile and design

• Aaron Douglas designed book covers and posters incorporating African-inspired motifs
• Lois Mailou Jones created textile designs inspired by African patterns
• Gwendolyn Bennett produced cover designs for Opportunity magazine
• Textile artist Loïs Mailou Jones incorporated African themes into her fabric designs
• Sculptor Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller designed costumes for theatrical productions

Musical innovations

• Music played a central role in the Harlem Renaissance, with new styles emerging and evolving
• African American musicians gained wider recognition and influenced American popular culture
• Harlem's nightclubs and theaters provided venues for musical experimentation and performance

Jazz and blues

• Louis Armstrong revolutionized jazz with his virtuosic trumpet playing and scat singing
• Duke Ellington's sophisticated compositions elevated jazz to an art form
• Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey popularized classic blues, addressing themes of love and hardship
• Fats Waller pioneered stride piano and composed hit songs like "Ain't Misbehavin'"
• Jelly Roll Morton blended ragtime and blues to help develop early jazz styles

Classical compositions

• William Grant Still composed the "Afro-American Symphony," incorporating blues elements into classical form
• Florence Price became the first African American woman to have a symphony performed by a major orchestra
• Harry Lawrence Freeman composed operas on African American themes
• Margaret Bonds collaborated with Langston Hughes on art songs and cantatas
• R. Nathaniel Dett incorporated spirituals into his classical compositions

Cabaret and vaudeville

• Ethel Waters transitioned from vaudeville to become a successful jazz and blues singer
• Florence Mills starred in the all-Black Broadway revue "Shuffle Along"
• Josephine Baker gained fame for her provocative dancing in Parisian revues
• The Nicholas Brothers developed a unique style of acrobatic tap dancing
• Bert Williams, though pre-dating the Harlem Renaissance, influenced later Black performers in vaudeville

Social and political themes

• Artists of the Harlem Renaissance used their work to address pressing social and political issues
• Many works challenged racial stereotypes and advocated for civil rights
• The movement fostered debates about the role of art in social change

Race and identity

• Explored the complexities of Black identity in America through literature and art
• Challenged negative stereotypes by presenting positive representations of African Americans
• Debated the concept of "racial uplift" and the responsibility of Black artists to their community
• Examined the psychological effects of racism, as in Countee Cullen's poem "Incident"
• Celebrated African heritage and its influence on African American culture

Gender roles

• Women artists challenged traditional gender expectations in their work and lives
• Explored themes of sexuality and desire, as in Nella Larsen's novels
• Addressed the double discrimination faced by Black women (racism and sexism)
• Male artists like Claude McKay portrayed strong, independent female characters
• Questioned patriarchal structures within the African American community

Class and economic issues

• Depicted the struggles of working-class African Americans in literature and art
• Explored tensions between middle-class aspirations and racial discrimination
• Addressed economic exploitation of Black workers, as in Sterling Brown's poetry
• Examined the role of education in social mobility for African Americans
• Critiqued materialism and class divisions within the Black community

Cultural institutions

• Various institutions supported and promoted the work of Harlem Renaissance artists
• These organizations played crucial roles in fostering collaboration and disseminating art
• Many institutions faced financial challenges during the Great Depression

Theaters and clubs

• The Apollo Theater showcased Black talent and launched many careers
• The Lafayette Theatre produced plays by and about African Americans
• The Cotton Club, though segregated, provided a venue for Black performers
• Small's Paradise, owned by African American Ed Small, welcomed mixed-race audiences
• The Savoy Ballroom became famous for its integrated dance floor and swing music

Publishing houses

• The Crisis, NAACP's magazine edited by W.E.B. Du Bois, published many Harlem Renaissance writers
• Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life, published by the National Urban League, held literary contests
• Charles S. Johnson founded Opportunity magazine, which promoted Black literature
• Knopf published works by Langston Hughes and other prominent Black authors
• Boni & Liveright published Alain Locke's influential anthology "The New Negro"

Art galleries

• The 135th Street Branch of the New York Public Library (now the Schomburg Center) held art exhibitions
• The Harmon Foundation sponsored exhibitions of African American art
• The Salon of Contemporary Negro Art, organized by Augusta Savage, showcased Black artists
• The Studio Museum in Harlem, founded later, continued the legacy of promoting Black art
• The Rosenwald Fund provided grants to support African American artists and writers

Legacy and influence

• The Harlem Renaissance had a lasting impact on American culture and civil rights movements
• Influenced subsequent generations of African American artists and intellectuals
• Helped shape perceptions of African American culture both nationally and internationally

Impact on civil rights

• Fostered racial pride and self-assertion that laid groundwork for civil rights movement
• Writings of Harlem Renaissance authors informed later civil rights leaders
• Challenged racial stereotypes through positive representations of African Americans
• Increased visibility of Black culture helped build support for racial equality
• Debates on art and politics during this era influenced later activist strategies

Contributions to American culture

• Popularized jazz and blues music, influencing American and global musical trends
• Introduced African American literature to mainstream audiences
• Influenced American visual arts with African-inspired motifs and themes
• Shaped American theater through productions like "Shuffle Along"
• Expanded the American literary canon to include diverse voices and experiences

Global artistic movements

• Influenced the Négritude movement in Francophone African and Caribbean literature
• Inspired Black British artists and writers in the post-World War II era
• Contributed to Pan-Africanism by celebrating African heritage and culture
• Impacted the development of Latin American and Caribbean arts movements
• Influenced global jazz scenes, particularly in Europe and Latin America

Challenges and criticisms

• The Harlem Renaissance faced various challenges and criticisms from both within and outside the movement
• Debates arose over the purpose of art and its role in addressing racial issues
• Some critics argued that the movement did not fully represent the diversity of Black experiences

Gender disparities

• Women artists often received less recognition and support than their male counterparts
• Female writers and artists addressed sexism within the African American community
• Some male artists perpetuated stereotypes of Black women in their work
• Women's contributions to the movement were sometimes overlooked in historical accounts
• Female artists like Zora Neale Hurston challenged gender norms through their work and lifestyles

Racial stereotypes

• Some critics argued that certain works reinforced racial stereotypes to appeal to white audiences
• Debates arose over the use of Black vernacular in literature and its potential to stereotype
• Visual artists grappled with how to represent Black subjects without perpetuating harmful images
• Some performers faced criticism for participating in productions that included racial caricatures
• Artists debated whether to focus on "racial" themes or pursue "universal" artistic expression

Commercialization concerns

• Success of the movement led to concerns about exploitation by white patrons and publishers
• Some artists felt pressure to produce work that conformed to white expectations of "authentic" Black art
• Harlem's nightlife became a tourist attraction, potentially trivializing the movement's serious artistic aims
• Debates arose over whether commercial success compromised artistic integrity
• Some critics argued that the movement benefited middle-class artists more than working-class Black people

End of Harlem Renaissance

• The Harlem Renaissance gradually declined in the 1930s due to various factors
• Economic and social changes shifted the focus of many artists and intellectuals
• Despite its end as a cohesive movement, its influence continued in American culture

Great Depression effects

• Economic hardship reduced patronage and publishing opportunities for Black artists
• Many Harlem residents faced unemployment and poverty, changing the neighborhood's character
• Some artists shifted focus to more overtly political and social themes in response to economic crisis
• Works Programs Administration (WPA) provided new opportunities for some artists but changed focus
• Financial struggles led to the closure of many Harlem clubs and cultural institutions

Shift in artistic focus

• Many artists moved away from themes of racial identity to address broader social issues
• Rise of social realism in literature and art reflected growing political consciousness
• Some artists became involved in leftist politics and labor movements
• Increased emphasis on using art as a tool for social change and political activism
• Growing interest in folk culture and rural Black experiences among some artists

Lasting cultural impact

• Harlem Renaissance established African American art as a significant part of American culture
• Influenced subsequent generations of Black artists, writers, and musicians
• Contributed to the development of African American studies as an academic discipline
• Paved the way for future movements like the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s
• Continued to inspire global interest in African American culture and arts