Harlem Renaissance
Celebration of African American culture in the 1920s through music, poetry, and writing. Key people – Langston Hughes, Claude Monet, Zora Neale Hurston
NAACP
An association that was formed to help blacks gain equal rights socially and politically. The purpose was to “abolish segregation and discrimination, to oppose racism, and to gain civil rights for African Americans.” It had several political victories over discrimination against blacks.
Jazz
Name for the 1920s, because of the popularity of jazz-a new type of American music that combined African rhythms, blues, and ragtime.
Louis Armstrong
Leading African American jazz musician during the Harlem Renaissance; he was a talented trumpeter whose style influenced many later musicians.
Great Migration
An early 20th century mass movement of African Americans from the Deep South to the Industrial North, particularly Chicago.
Marcus Garvey
African American leader durin the 1920s who founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and advocated mass migration of African Americans back to Africa. Was deported to Jamaica in 1927.
Zora Neal Hurston
American folklorist. Author of 1937 novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God”. Associated with Harlem Renaissance. Janie was one of the first African-American main characters to be portrayed in literature.
James Weldon Johnson
African-American author, poet, early civil rights activist, and prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance. He was also one of the first African-American professors at New York University.
Bessie Smith
A female blues singer was perhaps the outstanding vocalist of the time.
Duke Ellington
Born in Chicago middle class. moved to Harlem in 1923 and began playing at the cotton club. Composer, pianist and band leader. Most influential figures in jazz.
Paul Robeson
Black American Singer involved in the Civil rights movement, advocation of anti-imperialism, communism, and criticism of United States government caused him to become blacklisted. Played Othello at Savoy Theatre.
Langston Hughes
African American poet who described the rich culture of african American life using rhythms influenced by jazz music. He wrote of African American hope and defiance, as well as the culture of Harlem and also had a major impact on the Harlem Renaissance.
Claude McKay
Writer that urged resistance to prejudice and discrimination
UNIA
A black nationalist organization founded in 1914 by the Jamaican-born Marcus Garvey in order to promote resettlement of African Americans to their “African homeland” and to stimulate a vigorous separate black economy within the United States.
