Generalizations: The Harlem Renaissance

Directions:

• This activity will focus on three areas of the Harlem Renaissance Arts:

1. Graphic Art2. Language Arts3. Jazz Music

• While looking at each section answer the questions for that medium on your w/s “Generalizations: The Harlem Rennaissance.”

Graphic Art

Blues, 1929Archibald J. Motley,

Jr.

Cocktails, c. 1926Archibald Motley, Jr.

Into Bondage, 1936

Aaron Douglas

Ironers, 1943

Jacob Lawrence

Going to Church, c. 1940-41William H. Johnson

Language Arts

Poetry

Langston HughesLet America be AmericaAgain

Read this poem aloud inclass

“The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” 1921

Langston Hughes I've known rivers . . .I've known rivers ancient as the world and

older than the flow of human blood in human veins.My soul has grown deep like the rivers.I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young,I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep,I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it,I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln

went down to New Orleans,And I've seen its muddy bosom turn all golden

in the sunset.I've known rivers:Ancient dusky rivers,My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

• http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15722

Jazz Music

jazz-introduction.wmv

Fats Waller

Art of the Harlem Renaissance

• Why Harlem? – The Great Migration, soldiers

returning from WWI– The North: Greater freedom AND

anger at more racism

• Pan-Africa feelings– Popularity of Egyptian art & culture– Shed the ex-slave identity– Create a powerful, intelligent identity