The Harlem Renaissance History Research

Document Type:Research Paper

Subject Area:History

Document 1

The end of slavery in America had not brought the promised land that many people in the country anticipated. However, WHITE SUPREMACY was legally, quickly, and violently restored to the New South where the largest number of African Americans lived. Based on studies, an approximate of 90% African Americans lived in the New South (Bloom, 2004). In early 1890, African Americans started migrating from the South to the North. A large number of them migrated from the rural South to the Urban North. Unluckily, the citizens in the North were not willing to welcome the African Americans. Even though the law did not prevent the African Americans from entering the region, discrimination and prejudice were high. The Blacks were harshly discriminated by the Whites in the labor market. The Whites argued that the Blacks were flooding the employment market thus translating to a decline in wages.

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The immigrants were segregated in rub-down urban slums and the majority of them were Harlem. B. Du Bois also argued that the groups in America were responsible for their continuance and all individuals were bound to seek and forward their solution regardless of racial origin and color. The abilities of Johnson extended beyond his research skills. He increased militancy towards civil rights. However, his approach to the movement was different from that of Marcus Garvey and W. They could not afford it as a result of their economic status. The African Americans were allowed to live in the North but surprisingly, by 1910, an approximate of 10% of the total Black population was in the Northern states. Segregated facilities were initially not common in the region but African Americans were denied access to the best restaurants and hotels.

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National Urban League- the National Urban League was created in 1910 to help Black African Americans to shift to urban, industrial life. Organizations in the New York City were fighting for the civil rights for African Americans. Literature: To overcome the problem of racism in the region, the Harlem Renaissance produced several individuals who were excellent in writing or who were talented writers. Examples of these writers are Jessie Redmond Fauset, Nella Larsen, and Walter Thurman. They all wrote to address their experiences as Blacks and the struggles that African Americans go through. The father of Nella Larsen was a West Indian while the mother was Danish. This means Nella was of a mixed ancestry. ” These essays were meant to show the intellect of African Americans. W. E. B Du Bois was a cultural and literary inspiration that activated the Harlem Renaissance and the art of the Blacks in America.

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To expose and oppose prejudice and racism, Du Bois used his influential role in Crisis magazine. However, the piano was regarded as an instrument of the wealthy. As a result, wealthy blacks developed a feeling that jazz music was more acceptable. Afterward, large white and black jazz bands toured America. During the Harlem Renaissance, the music of Blacks was more attractive to Whites. Black musicians started merging with white artists in the music industry. The Black individuals were in great competition against the white businesspersons. Even though the Whites considered the businesses of the Blacks to be inferior, they had a huge impact on the country’s economy. They were as important as those of the Whites. Anthony Overton, a social activist, and businessman, recognized the importance of businesses owned and operated by Blacks.

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Anthony was a key figure in the development of Bronzeville between the mid-1910s and early-1930s (Aquirre& Lempert, 2017). With much boldness, he established factories and distribution networks to support his activities. To ensure smooth shipping of Blacks into Africa, the headquarters of UNIA were transferred to Liberia. Unfortunately, the shipping company (Black Star Line) was declared bankrupt. Later, Anthony was arrested and imprisoned for 5 years. This was the end of his struggle for the freedom of African Americans. Initially, the Harlem Renaissance Movement was referred to as the New Nero Movement and it was the flowering of a different African-American culture. Black poets, writers, intellectuals, musicians, and artists came up with new ways of expressing their pride in culture and race. The most important concept during the Harlem Renaissance was that it was time for Black African-Americans to fight for their rights in society and make a contribution to culture through different ways.

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Even though the movement flourished in the late 1920s, the impact was still felt in 1930s and beyond. Art and Artists: The art of African-Americans during the Harlem Renaissance featured bold colors which were arranged in an expressionist manner. In addition, a renewed emphasis on continental Africa as the root of the culture of African Americans was a common theme within the art of Harlem Renaissance. Tribal and Jungle scenes were in most cases presented in idealized imagery as a way of praising the heritage of African-Americans. Aaron Douglas is among the artists who employed the idealized imagery with great success. Tribal African imagery was produced with modern art thus translating in an innovative genre that was believed to connect the heritage of Africans with social progress. Poets and Authors: Literature and poetry were very important elements of the Harlem Renaissance.

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The identity, self-portrait, and culture of African Americans emerged from Harlem and it was later transmitted to the whole world. This challenged the issues of discrimination and prejudice in the South. Conclusion In conclusion, the Harlem Renaissance movement was formed in the early 29th century and it ushered in the civil rights movement. The social factors that contributed to the emergence of this movement include the Great Migration of African Americans. Due to an increase in racism and discrimination in the rural south, the Africa Americans decided to shift to the urban North. Bloom, H. Ed.  The Harlem Renaissance. Infobase Publishing. Ford, K. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

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