Harlem Renaissance is the name
given to the period from the end of
World War I through the middle of
the 1930s Depression, during
which a group of talented AfricanAmerican writers produced a
sizable body of literature in the
four prominent genres of poetry,
fiction, drama, and essay.
• Common themes:
alienation,
marginality, the
use of folk
material, the use of
the blues tradition,
the problems of
writing for an elite
audience.
The Harlem Renaissance was more than just a
literary movement, it included racial
consciousness; “The Back to Africa" movement
led by Marcus Garvey; racial integration; the
explosion of music, particularly jazz, spirituals
and blues; painting; and, dramatic revues
among others.
HOW DID THE MOVEMENT BEGIN?
In the early 1900s
several middle class
African American
families, wishing to
escape the decaying
conditions of the inner
city, moved into the
newly-built suburb of
Harlem.
In addition, during
World War I, a
shortage of labor
occurred as the
generous supply
of the European
unskilled
workforce ceased
to flow into New
York City.
This began a move north of educated African
Americans. They, in turn, created 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 in the area.
From the southern states came vast numbers of African Americans
attracted not only by the prospect of good paying jobs, but an escape
from the inherent inequities and blatant institutional racism of the
South.
• The Black migration,
from south to north,
changed the image of
African Americans
from rural to urban,
peasant to
sophisticate.
Harlem became a crossroads where Blacks
interacted with and expanded their contacts
internationally.
faculty.weber.edu
Harlem Renaissance profited from a spirit of selfdetermination which was widespread after W.W.I.
1935 marks the end of the era known as the
Harlem Renaissance. It was mostly the
result of Depression economics.
Works cited
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http://web.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap9/9intro.html
eyeconart.net
http://www.pbs.org/speak/images/harlem.jpg
www.negroartist.com
faculty.weber.edu
www.fcps.k12.va.us
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www.artinaclick.com www.flickr.com
•
ocw.mit.edu
•
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www.emapstore.com
ephemerapress.com
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nfo.net