Transcript Musicians of the Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance:
African-American Pop. Culture
Spreads
Changes for African Americans
Great Migration (1910-1920): Thousands of African
Americans move N to big cities
●
Renaissance Developes in Harlem, NY
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Harlem Renaissance: a literary and
artistic movement celebrating
African-American culture
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Many famous writers, artists, and
musicians
Writers of the Harlem Renaissance
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Langston Hughes
-- poems described difficult lives of
working-class African Amer.’s
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Zora Neale Hurston
-- literary work focused on lives
of poor, unschooled Southern
African Amer.’s
Musicians of the Harlem Renaissance
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Jazz Music “migrates” north, settles in Chicago
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Louis Armstrong
-- introduced improvised solo
-- considered the most influential musician
to Jazz music
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Duke Ellington
-- jazz pianist & composer,
led 10-piece orchestra at the Cotton
Club in Harlem, NY
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Bessie Smith
-- blues singer
-- 1927: highest paid black artist in the world
“Democracy”, by Langston Hughes
Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Nor ever
Through compromise and fear.
I have as much right
As the other fellow has
To stand
On my two feet
And own the land.
I tire so of hearing people say,
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when
I'm dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.
Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need.
I live here, too.
I want freedom
Just as you.