In 1904 several middleclass African American families moved away from the decaying conditions of Black Bohemia of midtown into the newly-built suburb of Harlem. This initiated a move north of educated African Americans and a foothold into Harlem. In 1910 a large block along 135th and Fifth Ave was bought up by various African American realtors and a church group. These purchases caused a "white flight" and lowered real estate prices.

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PART A What is white flight and what caused it? Why did Blacks move north? Picture A

◦ How is this picture different from today? Write down at least 5 ways that it may be different.

Picture B◦ What do you think happened to the neighborhood

in the bottom picture? Why do you think it looks more run down than the top picture?

There were various patrons of the arts, both black and white, including the very wealthy A'Lelia Walker who ran an influential salon, the Dark Tower from her home, Countee Cullen (the Romantic poet), Nora Thurston Zeale (anthropologist), Langston Hughes (playwright and poet) Three main political figures kept the hopes of freedom for African Americans alive and made Harlem a political hotbed of activities. The three figures were W.E.B. Dubois, the James Weldon Johnston and finally the charismatic Black Nationalist Marcus Garvey.

As World War I approached, a shortage of labor ensued at the generous supply of European unskilled labor ceased to flow into New York City. From the southern states came vast numbers of African Americans attracted not only by the prospect of paid labor but an escape from the inherent inequities and blatant institutional racism of the South.

PART B Choose one of the major players (anyone in

red) of the movement. Research and write a 10 sentence biography about their life.

PART C The Harlem Renaissance gave way to many

new forms of expression for African Americans.

View the next three slides that detail Harlem Renaissance art. Choose a piece of art that you like and analyze it using the worksheet.

William H. Johnson Early Morning Work

about 1940oil38 1/2 x 45 5/8 in.Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation

Sargent Johnson Mask

about 1930–35copper on wood base15 1/2 x 13 1/2 x 6 in.Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of International Business Machines Corporation

William H. Johnson Street Life, Harlem

about 1939--40oil45 3/4 x 38 5/8 in.Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation

Write down 5 facts about Langston Hughes. Click on his picture to take you to a website about him. How did he contribute to the Harlem Renaissance?

Listen or read Langston Hughes’ poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.”

As the poem is read… write down your thoughts, emotions, ideas of what the poem means.

Open PBS Biographies: Duke Ellington. You are going to listen to three jazz tunes by Duke Ellington, a famed musician and composer of the Harlem Renaissance. Click on 3 of the audio samples on the website.

When you’re finished listening to the song clips write what song you listened to and describe the mood that each of the musical selections evokes.

What were you able to learn about the Harlem Renaissance by listening to jazz music? Write a 12 sentence paragraph that explains the Harlem Renaissance.

... by listening to an essay?

... by looking at paintings?

... by listening to a poem?

... by reading historical data?

... by browsing a website?