HARLEM RENAISSANCE
LITERARY TIME PERIOD
By: Jasmine Jailall
INTRODUCTION
Also known as the New Negro Movement, the Harlem Renaissance began
after the American Civil War
Great Migration occurred when African Americans moved from the South
to the North.
Harlem became the brightest place. It was filled with musicians, artists and
writers. Harlem later became known as "the capital of Black America”
This time period gave the African American people a sense of pride in their
culture; they felt as if no one can stop them.
WHAT IS THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE
LITERARY TIME PERIOD?
During this literary period, African
Americans used their culture to redefine the African American
literature
The Harlem Renaissance literary
time period began with a series of
literary discussions that later led to
many famous writers.
COTTON CLUB
 The Cotton Club was a famous
Jazz music night club located in
Harlem, New York.
 This was a white-only club,
however featured many famous
African American entertainers.
 The Cotton Club eventually has
a section for African Americans
only, and they had separate
entertainment for them.
POLITICAL CONDITIONS
African Americans were given the right to vote.
The two major political figures during this time was
Marcus Garvey and W.E.B. Dubois.
MARCUS GARVEY
He founded the Universal Negro
Improvement Association and he
also served as the president.
 Also opened several business to
promote a separate black nation
W.E.B. DUBOIS
the first African American to
graduate from Harvard University
Cofounder of the National
Association for the Advancement of
Colored People (NAACP).
Not only was Dubois a politician,
but he was also a writer.
RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS
Many new ideas were formed about how to carry on religious beliefs, such
as mega-type churches, sect/cult approaches, and religious nationalists.
First Pan African Congress, which created a gateway to African unity and
spiritual values.
Many new thinking patterns and different creative patterns were formed
that were controversy to previous beliefs.
CHARLES A. TINDLEY
First African American to compose and publish hymns.
THOMAS A. DORSEY
Known as the "Father of Gospel" because of his traditional style Gospel
Music.
ARTISTIC CONDITIONS
Art played a key role in showcasing the Harlem Renaissance.
Artists were able to show the African American culture through
their paintings with great emotion.
Each art work has a story behind it and it varies from each
artist.
WILLIAM H. JOHNSON
This artist is known for his style of
colorful and neofolk paintings.
Won an Harmon award for his art
work.
His paintings are very personal
because they involve his family and
friends and his life in Florence,
South Carolina.
SARGENT CLAUDE JOHNSON
This artist is known for his
wonderful sculptures because they
represent the beauty of the African
American people.
Because of his wonderful work, he
was later known as one of the
leading sculptors during the Harlem
Renaissance.
LANGSTON HUGHES
As a young child, Hughes was
named the class poet, even though he
never actually written any poems.
 Published " The Weary Blues",
which won him his first prize in
1925.
His writings always shows his pride
towards his African heritage.
ZORA NEALE HURSTON
Her writing started with college
publication and then later she began
writing magazines, newspapers and
also entering into writing contests.
The peak of Hurston's works was
during the 1930's through the 1940's
when she published four novels and an
autobiography.
However, her career took a turn for
the worse, when she was charged for
molesting a ten year old boy.
Later died because she fell into
depression and had a stroke.
“THE WEARY BLUES”
This poem is by Langston Hughes.
This poem takes places in Harlem,
where the speaker hears a blues
musician playing music.
This poem makes the reader feel a
sense of calmness because he wants
you to connect with the blues
musician.
“IF WE MUST DIE”
This poem written by Claude
McKay.
His reason for writing this poem
was to tell his people to stand up for
what is right and fight back.
LITERARY INFLUENCE
The Literature of this time period showed how bad racial segregation really
was.
Marcus Garvey emphasized a new philosophy for African Americans known
as the "Back to Africa" movement.. The ideas surrounding the "Back to
Africa" movement established a new sense of pride and planted the
foundation for advancements during the Harlem Renaissance.
Many of these famous and known artists and civil rights activists had a lot
to do with the political, social, and religious reforms during this time as well
BACK TO AFRICA MOVEMENT
Also known as the Colonization
Movement.
The ideas surrounding the "Back
to Africa" movement established a
new sense of pride and planted the
foundation for advancements during
the Harlem Renaissance.
WORK CITED
Harlem Renaissance". Bio True Story.Web.10 May 2012
http://www.biography.com/tv/classroom/harlem-renaissance
"Politics Issues". Harlem Renaissance Multimedia Resource. Web.10 may
2012http://www.jcu.edu/harlem/Politics/Page_1.htm
"W.E.B. Du Bois." Bio True Story. 2012. Web 14 May 2012
http://www.biography.com/people/web-du-bois-9279924
Meltzer, Milton. "Langston Hughes: A Biography". Encyclopedia of World
History. New York: Crowell, 1968.Web.14 May
2012http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ho-Jo/Hughes-Langston.html
Denise Low & T.F. Pecore Weso. "Langston Hughes Biography". Kansas
History. 2004. Web. 15 May 2012
<http://www.kansasheritage.org/crossingboundaries/page6e1.html>
WORK CITED CONTINUED
"Biography Of Zora Neale Hurston". Grade Saver.Web. 15 May
2012http://www.gradesaver.com/author/zora-neale-hurston/
"African American Writers and Poets".Harlem Renaissance. Web. 15 May 2012
http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/markport/lit/introlit/harlem2.htm
"Cotton Club". Wikipedia. Web. 16 May 2012 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_Club
Johnson, Sargent Claude". Cartage. Web. 16 May 2012
http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Biographies/MainBiographies/J/JohnsonS/Johnson.htm
Richard J. Powell. "The Harlem Renaissance". African American Art. Web. 16 May 2012
http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/a/african_american_4.html
"The Weary Blues". Web. 16 May 2012 <http://cai.ucdavis.edu/uccp/workingweary.html>