THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE

Background
Beginning in 1919 and holding on until the mid 1930s, the Harlem Renaissance was a movement within the African-American population of Harlem, and later spreading across the country, that sought to spread, reinvent, and empower Black culture.

What happened?/Why was it famous?
During the 1920s, music was focused on Jazz. Jazz was considered to be a "Black Music" and was both looked down upon and highly praised by the white population. This is considered to be the beginning of the Harlem Renaissance.

Once Jazz was placed as the main type of musical entertainment, Black writers started to gain recognition. The main population of Harlem, New York was Black. Books such as The Great Gatsby were extremely popular during this time as it described both a high profile, and city-like life. This trend of fascination with city life held on, and produced the grounds for Harlem writers to gain popularity.

Around the mid 1920s, many Black writers were inspired by Harlem writers. They began to publish their own works across the country. This gave the country a look at what Black life was truly like.

Impact on the 1920’s
The Harlem Renaissance was the beginning of the civil rights movement. It was the first time a black community was recognized with a large positive, welcoming response. Black businessmen were being endorsed, praised, and overall congratulated on their success. This surge of Black recognition impacted the popular culture of the 1920s.

With Black culture being recognized, people began to become interested with their way of life. This saw the rise of Jazz, a music genre considered to be Black. With Jazz came new types of dances, and with new dances came Dance Marathons. These were day long events where people would dance until they would either quit or collapse.

Once Jazz became popular, so did Black artists and writers. This then gave the Black community a new sense of hope and encouragement, thus starting a social revolution where Blacks, and later different minorities, would fight for the same rights as the White and majority populations.

My opinion
During the 1920s, The USA was very relaxed as far as traditional public appearances went. Flappers, Kissing in public, and Black authors/musicians up and coming all show how the USA began to go through a transformation.

It is my belief that if the Harlem Renaissance did not happen during the 1920s-1930s, the civil rights movement that took place from the 50s to 60s may have never happened. If that were the case, then many minorities would not have the rights they have now.

The Harlem Renaissance was a positive, permanent, crucial movement in the fight for equality throughout the nation, and helped shape the country from then to now.

EXTRA; KEY PLAYERS OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE

• Louis Armstrong: Trumpet Player
• Claude McKay: Author, poet, journalist
• Walter White: Author, Journalist, Civil Rights Activist
• Madam C.J. Walker: Philanthropist, Entrepreneur, Civil Rights activist (woman in the picture in the background)