Independence
Essential Question: Despite overt racism, how did Negroes improve life in the 1920s for themselves?
During World War I, many men left to fight the war, leaving positions open for jobs, especially in low-skilled labor. Blacks moved north to take advantage of this. The Great Migration of blacks to the north led to the Harlem Renaissance, a revival of black culture and a way for the African American people to find themselves. Many African Americans made a name for themselves and inspired pride within their race. They created new styles of the arts. Jazz was developed by African Americans.
Vocabulary
renaissance- the activity, spirit, or time of a great revival of art, literature, and learning
jazz- music originating in New Orleans by African Americans around the beginning of the 1900s, which is usually characterized by improvisation
jazz- music originating in New Orleans by African Americans around the beginning of the 1900s, which is usually characterized by improvisation
Key Concepts-
- What developments during World War I helped give rise to the Harlem Renaissance?
- How was racial consciousness and racial pride affected by the Harlem Renaissance?
- What contributions did African Americans make in the fields of music, literature, and the arts?
- How did mass media, the birth and evolution of jazz, and the Harlem Renaissance create a new blend of American culture?
- How did Marcus Garvey's UNIA show an emergence of blacks asserting themselves?
World War I on the Harlem Renaissance
While many men were away fighting in World War I, African Americans moved northward in large numbers to seek jobs in the factories because immigration to America had all but stopped and the demand for low-skilled industrial workers was still there. When African Americans moved north, that sparked the Harlem Renaissance. This was called the Great Migration.
The Harlem Renaissance and Racial Pride
The Harlem Renaissance gave the African Americans a sense of pride in themselves. Some African Americans challenged racial stereotypes intellectually, becoming involved in different arts and promoting racial integration. They hoped to change the ideas of the white man regarding black people and society.
African American Contributions to the Arts
Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson, and Claude McKay are famous black poets from the time of the Harlem Renaissance. They focused on African American heritage in their poetry. Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong are famous jazz musicians from the period. Bessie Smith became a popular singer, and Paul Robeson was a talented actor.
A New Culture
Jazz had origins among African Americans, though it was liked by both blacks and whites. It therefore helped to encourage a positive image of African Americans. It became a popular form of music and helped to blend American culture. Media encouraged this blend. For example, jazz music was played on the radio.
Marcus Garvey's UNIA
Marcus Garvey came from Jamaica to the United States in 1916. He endorsed both individual and racial pride and helped to develop black nationalism. He started the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), which endorsed self-sufficiency as well as program to send black people back to Africa. His ideas inspired later generations in black pride, even if his ideas weren't popular at the time.
Summary
The 1920's was a time of great importance to African Americans. It was a revival of black culture and a great contribution to art, music, and literature. It promoted racial pride and helped to establish individual identities for African Americans.
- What developed during World War I helped give rise to the Harlem Renaissance? When working men left to fight, African Americans moved north to take some of the empty jobs in the factories, leading to the Harlem Renaissance.
- How was racial consciousness and racial pride affected by the Harlem Renaissance? African Americans had a new sense of pride in themselves and their race because of the contributions African Americans made to the arts during the Harlem Renaissance.
- What contributions did African Americans make in the fields of music, literature, and the arts? African Americans created new forms and styles of the arts. One example is jazz music.
- How did mass media, the birth and evolution of jazz, and the Harlem Renaissance create a new blend of American culture? Media and jazz, created within the Harlem Renaissance, was integrated into the lively 1920's culture to create a new culture.
- How did Marcus Garvey's UNIA show an emergence of blacks asserting themselves? While there was no immediate impact, Marcus Garvey's ideas influenced younger generations that they did not need to assimilate entirely, that they could take pride in their African American heritage.