E11 West
Harlem Renaissance Research Activities
Name:
Part I: Use research to fill in the following blanks. There is no one exact, required word for most blanks, but
there are definitely words that are “more correct” than others.
The Harlem Renaissance was an artistic movement centered in the New York City area of Harlem,
reaching its height in the decade of the ____________’s. The movement included many different art
forms, such as, ____________, ____________, ____________, and ____________. The Harlem
Renaissance was a part of the larger literary movement known as ____________¸ and likewise valued
innovation and experimentation. For example, poets tried to incorporate the rhythms of
____________ music into their writing, and painters experimented with ____________ often
creating paintings that were “non-representational.” One poet, Langston ____________, achieved
great critical success in America even while frequently criticizing American racism, while the singer /
dancer / performer Josephine ____________ felt more comfortable moving to ____________ where
she lived and interacted with other Modernists like F. Scott ____________, Ernest ____________,
and Gertrude ____________. By its end in the decade of the ____________’s, the Harlem
Renaissance had brought the creative output of a whole community of African-American artists to
the forefront of American culture, and American literature would never be the same.
Part II: Short Answer: Answer these questions in several sentences each.
Jazz Music: A student once said, “Jazz is a conversation. The soloist says something, the rest of the band
responds.” Explain what you think that might mean.
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Find and read Langston Hughes’s poem “Harlem” (also sometimes called “Dream Deferred”) and then answer
these questions.
a. What is the dream Hughes refers to in "Harlem"? Why might it explode rather than dry up? Why
should the poem be called "Harlem"?
b. How might this poem’s idea apply to Richard in the book Black Boy?
Who were the “patrons” of the Harlem Renaissance and in what way were their relationships with the artists
of the movement complicated? In your answer, include discussion of at least one famous artist / patron pair.
How did the Great War (WWI) impact the Harlem Renaissance? List and explain at least two ways.
a.
b.
Hand-draw a map of New York City showing where Harlem is. Also include Manhattan, Long Island, Gatsby’s
mansion, Wall Street, the Statue of Liberty, and, in a symbolic way, racism.
What was the Cotton Club? Draw an original picture of a typical scene someone might have seen there:
Find and explain at least two other interesting facts / facets / or historical details about the Harlem
Renaissance that you encountered in your research.
Based on all this research, on all these figures and facts, on everything you know about the Harlem
Renaissance, how would you define the “voice” of the HR? Explain in detail.
Write an original poem, at least twelve lines long, in the voice of the Harlem Renaissance. Type it. Turn it in
with this assignment.