The Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance

Provider: Dr. Ron Tranquilla

The 369th Regiment of African American soldiers returns
triumphantly to Harlem after World War I, 1999

Refer to W. E. B. Dubois' "Returning Soldiers"

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Couple in Racoon Coats. Photo by Van der Zee. 1932

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Harlem at the beginning of the "Great Migration" of
African-Americans to Harlem, about 1915-1920

The sign reads: "APARTMENTS TO LET.
For Respectable Colored Families Only"

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Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments. Built by Rockefeller in
the 1920s for middle class African-Americans, sold in 1937

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"Striver's Row" at 139th Street rented or owned by upper class African Americans

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Harlem. Edward Burra. 1934

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Harlem. Edward Burra. 1934

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Saturday Night Street Scene. Archibald Motley Jr. 1936

What attitudes about Harlem do the paintings evoke?
Why do you say so? In what literary works of the
Harlem renaissance do you find smilar attitudes?

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Refer to Claude McKay's "Harlem Dancer"

Dancer, Harlem. 1925. Photo by James Van der Zee

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Musicians and dancers, Harlem club

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Refer to Helene Johnson, "My Race"; Margaret Walker,
"For My People"; Langston Hughes, "America"

Aspirations. 1936. Mural by Aaron Douglas

"I of the dark eyes
And the crinkly hair...

I am America

Seeking the stars...I want to grovel

No longer in the mire..."

--Langston Hughes, "America"

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"Ah my race,

Hungry race...

Wonder race..."

--Helene Johnson, "My Race"

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Allan. R. Freelon. The New Negro. Carolina Magazine. 1928

How many images in this illustration remind you of
specific works by Harlem Renaissance writers?

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Lynchings of African-Americans (Refer to "Blood-Burning Moon")

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Refer to "Blood-Burning Moon"

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A lynching Post Card