Harlem Renaissance
By: Lyssa Barochin
The Harlem Renaissance
• The Harlem Renaissance took place in the
years following Civil War, from 1920 to the
1930s. A few years before a large number of
African Americans began to migrate from
southern U.S. states to Northern ones. The
North wasn’t perfect but it provided better
opportunities for blacks such as better
education.
The Harlem Renaissance Cont.
• This migration was known as the Great
Migration. Many of those who migrated
moved to the city of Harlem in New York and
this was the start of the Renaissance. The
Renaissance can be best described as a
movement which brought attention to African
American literature, art, music, dance, and
poetry.
Literary Period
The Renaissance was originally referred to as the
New Negro Movement.
It focused on issues African Americans faced,
such as racism through music, dance, poetry,
literature and much more.
Social Elements
• Racism was still apparent even in the North.
For example places like the Cotton Club only
excepted white clientele. However those of
color such as Duke Ellington where allowed to
perform there.
Social Elements
• Immigrants from the Caribbean Islands also
affected the Renaissance. Since they were used
to being judge based on social class and not on
skin color they were constantly trying to
improve their position in the economy. Claude
McKay was a famous poet of the time, and he
was also Jamaican.
Artistic Elements
• The artistic elements of the Renaissance were
literature, dance, art, theater, poetry, and music
in which focused on African American life
during the time.
Artistic Elements
• The Renaissance became what it was because
of its Artistic Elements.
Political Elements
• W.E.B. Du Bois was one of the main leaders of
the movement during this time. Du Bois along
with other political activist founded the
N.A.A.C.P.
Politics
• Another leader during this time was Marcus
Garvey. Mr. Garvey founded the (UNIA-ACL)
which called for the reuniting of African
Americans in one absolute government.
Religious Elements
• The majority of people in Harlem during the
Renaissance were Christian but some were
Black Hebrews or Black Muslims.
Music
• A big part of the Harlem Renaissance
was music. Jazz became popular and
was played in places such as the
Savory Club, the Cotton Club, and the
Apollo Theater.
Music Cont.
Musical greats of the time were Duke Ellington,
Lena Horne and Cab Callaway.
Dance
• Along with the music came dancing, and
during this time the Charleston ,Lindy Hop,
and jazz dance were very popular.
Poetry
• Some of the great poets during the Harlem
Renaissance were Countee Cullen and
Langston Hughes.
Literature
• In 1925 Alain Locke’s anthology “The New
Negro” was published.
• The anthology was a collection literature from
writers such as Langston Hughes and Jean
Toomer.
Art
• The most notable artist of the time included
Aaron Douglass who is said to be the “father
of Afro-American Art”.
Interesting Facts
• W.E.B Du Bois helped to found the
N.A.A.C.P. which is still prominent today.
• The people of Harlem often threw rent parties,
which were parties thrown in ones apartment
with the intention of getting rent money by
charging a fee at the door.
Interesting Facts cont.
• The Harlem Renaissance ended because of the
Great Depression.
• The Harlem Renaissance took place during the
Roaring 20s.
Interesting Facts
* Countee Cullen's father was a prominent
Reverend during the Harlem Renaissance.