HARLEM rENAISSANCE AND
eMERGENCE OF bLACK iNDEPENDENCE
A lot of African Americans had gained wider exposure for their arts, writings, music, acting, and painting skills. The African Americans in the Harlem Renaissance found their true beauty and they showed their true voice to everyone. They started to protest for black rights and they didn't want to be the lesser life forms of the world.
WWI Led to the Harlem Renaissance
During WWI, there were many developments that led to the rise of the Harlem Renaissance. During WWI, what is known as the Great Migration was occurring. The Great Migration is the movement of African Americans to Northern Cities. This was a large movement, due to the many African Americans who were moving north to take advantage of the jobs available. What used to be purely white towns, were now the center of African American towns, as they took many jobs because the white males were going off to war.
Racial Pride
African Americans were a minority group that was discriminated against the most. They were looked down upon by many whites. Many African Americans wondered why they couldn't just be white. During the 1920's African Americans finally found their true beauty and they felt that they didn't need to be anyone else anymore. They were proud of who they were, they were developing their racial pride. They were deemed the term "New Negro" which described the African Americans who moved north to protect their black communities from racism and who were proud of their African American Success.
Contributions to the arts
The rising love of Jazz music was a direct result of this time period. African Americans developed deep roots in this genre of music, and they were responsible for developing the love for Jazz music. Jazz originated in New Orleans, and then later spread to Chicago and New York. Huge names like Louis Armstrong came out of this time period. Abstract art styles came from this period. New arts were being accepted and traditional was thrown out.
The New American Culture
The Harlem Renaissance not only affected the African Americans, but it also led to a new, blended American Culture. Jazz music was spreading fast and many whites were drawn in by this new style of music. Jazz Poetry was introduced, which was a new style to all. The Harlem Renaissance led to changes in music, literature, fashion, and new behaviors for women. For once, whites and blacks were blending, and a new American Culture was born as everyone was taken over by this new movement.
Marcus Garvey's Unia
UNIA - Universal Negro Improvement Association - was the start of Blacks actively pursuing equal rights. Marcus Garvey went after Black rights viciously and they had never fought like this before. For once, Blacks were starting to fight for issues that they had never fought for before. They were starting to stand up for themselves, which had never really been seen before.
Thinking LIke a HIstorian
Change and Continuity - African Americans were changing the country. They produced a new type of sophisticated music called jazz. They also had their own jazz arts and poetry which were also big and important. The African Americans had a Great migration moving from the deep south to the North in look for jobs. These changes led to the Harlem Renaissance and they changed music in a big way. The African Americans started fighting for black rights. There continued to be racial tensions but eventually it calmed a little bit with the jazz.