THE ROARING TWENTIES: THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE & POP CULTURE

Chapter 20.2 & 20.3

The Great Migration

Beginning around 1910, Harlem – a neighborhood in upper Manhattan – became a favorite destination for African Americans migrating up from the South

African Americans also migrated to Detroit and Chicago looking for factory work during WWI The Harlem

Globetrotters: An exhibition basketball

team that combines athleticism, theater, and

comedy.

African Americans after WWI While racial tensions were not as

pronounced as they were in the South, they were especially severe after WWI, primarily because of job competition

African Americans also had changing expectations of how they ought to be treated – because of their contributions in WWI, many believed they had earned greater freedom/equal opportunities

These two factors led to a great deal of racial violence and race riots

W.E.B. DuBois (Again!)

As we learned earlier, W.E.B. DuBois was a prominent leader in the black community

Apart from founding the NAACP, DuBois also served as editor of a magazine called The Crisis The Crisis provided an outlet for

African American writers and poets to share their work and discuss race relations

The Crisis also helped promote a great African American arts movement in New York referred to as the Harlem Renaissance

Harlem Writers and Poets

Before this era, little African American literature had been published . . . despite this, their literary achievements were astounding One common theme was defiance and resistance to white prejudice

Langston Hughes Poet, writer Wrote of black defiance, but also wrote of hope

James Weldon Johnson Journalist, lawyer, educator, composer Leader of the NAACP

His song, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” became the anthem

A New Song – Langston HughesI speak in the name of the black millions awakening to action. Let all others keep silent a moment, I have this word to bring, This thing to say, this song to sing:

Bitter was the day when I bowed my back beneath the slaver's whip. That day is past. Bitter was the day when I saw my children unschooled, my young men without a voice in the world, my women taken as the body-toys of a thieving people. That day is past. Bitter was the day, I say, when the lyncher's rope hung about my neck, and the fire scorched my feet, and the oppressors had no pity, and only in the sorrow songs relief was found. That day is past. I know full well now only my own hands, dark as the earth, can make my earth-dark body free. O thieves, exploiters, killers, no longer shall you say with arrogant eyes and scornful lips: "You are my servant, black man - I, the free!" That day is past- for now, in many mouths - dark mouths where red tongues burn and white teeth gleam - new words are formed, bitter with the past but sweet with the dream. Tense, unyielding, strong and sure, they sweep the earth –

Revolt! Arise! The black and white world shall be one! The worker's world! The past is done! A new

dream flames against the sun!

Claude McKay

Published Home to Harlem in 1928

It was the first novel by a Harlem writer to reach the bestseller list

Fine Arts

Artist Aaron Douglas used elements of African design and subject matter in his murals for public buildings, illustrations for publications, and paintings such as “Into Bondage”

Performers & Musicians

Originally came to New York to practice law, but won fame on the stage Performed in a number of

movies and stage productions

Also had a wonderful singing voice Performed in the

groundbreaking musical show Shuffle Along, which had an all-black cast

Singer Dancer Very popular in

Europe, where African American performers were more widely accepted than they were in America

Paul Robeson Josephine Baker

“Man, if you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.”

- Louis Armstrong

JAZZ!

Jazz Music

Jazz is a musical form which originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions.

Jazz music was not defined by clear rules but by its spirit and creativity

A jazz song might start with a known melody or theme, but much of it was improvised Composed on the spot

Mass Entertainment: Radios

The Radio In October of 1920, Westinghouse started the first

corporate radio station in the U.S. – KDKA

Helped break down the barriers created by distance connecting people and creating an American ‘culture’

By 1922, the U.S. had 570 radio stations broadcasting all types of programming Music, news, religious services, sporting events, bedtime

stories for children, etc.

Mass Entertainment: Movies In earlier years, most movies were short, simple

pieces with no sound

The Birth of a Nation Highly controversial, innovative film which

introduced new techniques and advances in film-making

In the 1920’s, longer movies with sound were introduced, establishing film as an art form; by the end of the decade, Americans were buying 100 million tickets a week

An Era of Heroes Film Stars

Charlie Chaplin Rudolph Valentino Clara Bow

“It Girls”, sex symbols Lucky Lindy

Charles Lindbergh successfully completes the first transatlantic flight 33.5 hours

Amelia Earhart The first woman to fly across the Atlantic; later attempted the first flight

around the world but disappeared over the Pacific Ocean in an area referred to as . . . ?

Sports Heroes Red Grange the first college football player to go pro Helen Willis won thirty-one tennis tournaments and two Olympic gold

medals Bobby Jones was the only golfer to ever win a “Grand Slam”

Four tournaments in the same calendar year Babe Ruth