The Harlem Renaissance from 1919-1940 saw many black Americans migrating to northern cities like New York, settling in neighborhoods like Harlem. This influx created a need for black Americans to establish their own cultural identity separate from white society. Writers and artists emerged seeking to define this identity through literature and art. Figures like Alain Locke and W.E.B. Du Bois promoted using black talent and the arts to gain recognition and social acceptance, though there were differing views on how directly to address issues of race. The movement helped bring wider publishing and success for black creators.

1. THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE 1919- 1940

2. Northern cities became a magnet for thousands of blacks fleeing the South after Reconstruction Era Lynchings, segregation and intolerable living conditions inspired migration to the North Industrial expansion created a demand for labor - employers eager to hire blacks WWI created more need for jobs previously held by white males Northern Migration and the Cultural Renaissance

3. Blacks settled in many cities: Chicago, Philadelphia, and Cleveland. New York City was the most popular destination because it was the largest and most famous Harlem was attractive because it was built to house middle and upper middle class whites, but became overbuilt and needed to include blacks or have increasing vacancies Why Harlem?

4. Grand avenues, broad sidewalks, finely constructed houses Housing superior to anything available to blacks anywhere else in U.S. Home to all classes of blacks, including leading writers, artists Interest in African American culture growing as well as popularity of jazz, blues and dance The attraction of Harlem

5. The Search for Identity This influx of blacks from many different backgrounds created a variety of needs. As blacks were beginning to establish themselves in the post-WWI urban settings, they needed to find their own identity and acceptance in a mostly white world.

6. The Central Mission The composition of urban environments was eclectic with returning black soldiers, upscale and well-educated blacks, and blacks fleeing injustices in the south.They did not agree on how to accomplish task of creating a new identity.

7. "The Talented Tenth" The literary movement in Harlem sought to relieve this tension by working with the "Talented Tenth." This was a term coined by W.E.B. DuBois proposing that one in ten black men will become leaders of the race, through education and training. The literary movement proposed that black identity and social acceptance would be accomplished through the arts. They began a campaign to gain support from influential black and white writers and publishers.

8. A formal campaign African-American newspapers and magazines published black manuscripts, created literary awards, and courted white patrons. A surge of new talent merged black and white writers and publishers. Such names to emerge were: Countee Cullen, Zora Neale Hurston, Jessie Fauset, Arna Bontemps, Jean Toomer, Claude McKay, and Langston Hughes.

9. Taking matters into their own hands... During the early Harlem Renaissance, African-American artists and writers seeking to publish their works turned to periodicals created, edited, and produced by other African Americans. The sheer variety in the content and tone of these many publications revealed the diverse—and sometimes opposing—social and political attitudes among prominent African Americans.

10. When artists and writers did not find the appropriate periodical to publish their work among the many existing publications, they would often create new periodicals to reflect their particular views. The Crisis - W.E.B. DuBois New York Age - James Weldon Johnson Opportunity - Charles Johnson Fire!!- Hughes, Hurston, Thurman Negro World - Marcus Garvey On the Newstand...

11. The Messenger openly criticized other magazines for their conservative stance Fire!! was "art for art's sake" and only lasted one issue Opportunity promoted contests for promising young black writers Crisis showcased "talented tenth"

12. This movement proved very successful New York publishers took an interest in African American writers Harper & Brothers bought out Countee Cullen's book of poetry Color , Jean Toomer's book of fiction Cane , Claude McKay's Harlem Shadows Harlem and the Creative Movement

13. The "Representative" African American? The early days of the Harlem Renaissance produced a wealth of poetry, short stories and novels, shaped by the direction of the Talented Tenth, projecting an image that they considered to be the "representative" African American"

14. Something Different is in the Air Langston Hughes argued that these writings catered to African Americans who wanted only to fit into white America, rejecting their own heritage. In 1923, the publication of Jean Toomer's Cane changed that. This publication combined poetry, short stories, vignettes, and drama, in a candid semi-autobiographical description of his seeking to find his "roots."

15. The Shift With this publication, a large scale shift occurred in the themes, narratives, diction, poetic images, and mission of the writers of the Harlem Renaissance. In 1926, in his essay, "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain," Langston Hughes called for a new "honesty" in depicting the image of African Americans. The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain

16. Writers were called upon to use a form "freer and larger than dialect" (James Weldon Johnson) Disentangle themselves from stereotypes Use language as the heart of their writing Use the traditions of the past, such as the writings of Phillis Wheatley to move into the future Racial Spirit

17. Alain Locke - created a collection of anthology of essays, stories, poems and artwork by older and younger white and black writers Captured the emerging spirit of the movement Merged racial awareness with desire for literacy and artistic excellence Exuded confidence in the black world and encouraged a link to other cultural movements around the world The New Negro - 1925

18. Harlem Renaissance "Manifesto" In Lock's anthology, he writes that the Negro should no longer be apologetic for his blackness but should take a new pride in a racial identity and heritage, of the "renewed self-respect and self-dependence in the contemporary black community." He urged writers to examine the meaning of an African past and to demonstrate this in their art. Harlem by Alain Lock e

19. Different perspectives There was a lack of agreement as to the role of the African-American writer at this time. Some still felt they should follow a traditional approach, and others felt they should represent their race. These differences point to the amazing range of talent in the movement, and the development of different kinds of writing of the Harlem Renaissance.

20. Determined to succeed in the white dominated field of literature Wanted to succeed as a poet through adherence to traditional standards of English verse Did not want to be labeled a racial writer, but received most acclaim from his racial writing "I want to be a poet, not a Negro poet" Countee Cullen

21. Saw Countee's attitude as a betrayal of racial identity Saw it as an "aping" of white European style Sought in his work to explore and accept his own blackness Known as "Poet Laureate of Harlem" Inspired by jazz and blues Langston Hughes

22. Described as one of the greatest writers of the century Used her childhood home as a setting for much of her writing Gathered material for the first collection of African American folklore compiled by an African American ( Mules and Men) Won critical acclaim for Their Eyes Were Watching God Died penniless and in disgrace Zora Neale Hurston

23. No Single Purpose The Harlem Renaissance was not a one- sided movement with only one purpose. It had an artistic, political and social agenda, promoted by the artists, writers and activists of the time. All would agree that art formed the bridge between individuals and cultures.