
In 1904 several middleclass African American
families moved away from the decaying
conditions of Black Bohemia of midtown into
the newly-built suburb of Harlem. This
initiated a move north of educated African
Americans and a foothold into Harlem. In
1910 a large block along 135th and Fifth Ave
was bought up by various African American
realtors and a church group. These purchases
caused a "white flight" and lowered real estate
prices.
A
1920
1990




PART A
What is white flight and what caused it?
Why did Blacks move north?
Picture A
◦ How is this picture different from today? Write
down at least 5 ways that it may be different.

Picture B
◦ What do you think happened to the neighborhood
in the bottom picture? Why do you think it looks
more run down than the top picture?

There were various patrons of the arts, both
black and white, including the very wealthy
A'Lelia Walker who ran an influential salon, the
Dark Tower from her home, Countee Cullen (the
Romantic poet), Nora Thurston Zeale
(anthropologist), Langston Hughes (playwright
and poet) Three main political figures kept the
hopes of freedom for African Americans alive
and made Harlem a political hotbed of
activities. The three figures were W.E.B. Dubois,
the James Weldon Johnston and finally the
charismatic Black Nationalist Marcus Garvey.

As World War I approached, a shortage of
labor ensued at the generous supply of
European unskilled labor ceased to flow into
New York City. From the southern states
came vast numbers of African Americans
attracted not only by the prospect of paid
labor but an escape from the inherent
inequities and blatant institutional racism of
the South.


PART B
Choose one of the major players (anyone in
red) of the movement. Research and write a
10 sentence biography about their life.



PART C
The Harlem Renaissance gave way to many
new forms of expression for African
Americans.
View the next three slides that detail Harlem
Renaissance art. Choose a piece of art that
you like and analyze it using the worksheet.

William H. Johnson

Early Morning Work
about 1940
oil
38 1/2 x 45 5/8 in.
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation

Sargent Johnson

Mask
about 1930–35
copper on wood base
15 1/2 x 13 1/2 x 6 in.
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of International Business Machines Corporation

William H. Johnson

Street Life, Harlem
about 1939--40
oil
45 3/4 x 38 5/8 in.
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation
Write down 5
facts about
Langston
Hughes. Click
on his picture
to take you to
a website
about him.
How did he
contribute to
the Harlem
Renaissance?


Listen to Langston Hughes’ poem “The Negro
Speaks of Rivers.”
As the poem is read… write down your
thoughts, emotions, ideas of what the poem
means.


Open PBS Biographies: Duke Ellington. You
are going to listen to three jazz tunes by
Duke Ellington, a famed musician and
composer of the Harlem Renaissance. Click
on 3 of the audio samples on the website.
When you’re finished listening to the song
clips write what song you listened to and
describe the mood that each of the musical
selections evokes.

What were you able to learn about the Harlem Renaissance by
listening to jazz music? Write a 12 sentence paragraph that
explains the Harlem Renaissance.

... by listening to an essay?

... by looking at paintings?

... by listening to a poem?

... by reading historical data?

... by browsing a website?