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Cause: Great Migration Fills Harlem
The Great Migration, a time where African Americans moved from the south to the more urban north in search of jobs, led to Harlem being populated by mostly African American people. -
Cause: NAACP Founded
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is founded, and they are to become a big proponent of furthering African American cultural relevance. -
The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man
Book written by James Weldon Johnson, describes the life of a biracial man during the reconstruction era south who has to claim to be white in order to escape the violence and racism in the south. Beginning of the African American cultural literature. -
Cause: United Negro Improvement Association founded
The UNIA was founded by a more radical leader in Marcus Garvey, who would start the "Back to Africa" movement. -
Jazz first used to describe music
"Jazz is Blues and Blues is Jazz" posted the Chicago Tribune. -
Silent Protest Parade
More than 1,000 marched on fifth avenue in New York protesting violence, specifically lynching. The protest was organized by the NAACP. -
Cause: The Messenger founded
Founded by Chandler Owens and A. Philip Randolf, The Messenger was a magazine that openly supported armed resistance by African Americans to violence, supported socialism, as well as brought attention to the Harlem Renaissance as it was happening. -
Claude McKay's Work Published in Seven Arts
Claude McKay, under the pseudonym Eli Edwards, has his work published in the historically white literary journal Seven Arts, marking a milestone in the acceptance of African American work into white culture. -
The Negro in Literature and Art in the United States published
A book by Benjamin Brawley, showcases how the African American people had influenced literature and art in the United States, and proved how powerful the work could be. Would be revised and republished in 1921. -
World War I ends
After the armistice on Nov. 11, the Treaty of Versailles is signed, bringing an end to WWI. During the war, the "Harlem Hellfighters", the 369th infantry unit consisting of all African American soldiers, spent more time in combat than any other unit. -
Cause: James Weldon Johnson becomes head of NAACP
Johnson, a successful author himself, becomes chief executive of the organization and pushes for art and literature to continue to grow. -
The New Crowd Negro
With urging from the NAACP as well as other Harlem Renaissance writers, people were told to stand up for themselves against violence such as what occurred during the Red Summer. -
Jessie Fauset becomes editor of The Crisis
Fauset, who had been writing for the W.E.B. Du Bois created magazine since 1912, becomes editor and supported the new literature being created during the time of the Renaissance. -
30 Years of Lynching in the United States published
The book, published by the NAACP, highlights the racism and violence that had been occurring in the nation. -
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Red Summer
The Red Summer was a time marked by protest and violence of the newfound brilliance in African American culture. Races riots and lynchings were common, and most of the violence was caused by white men attacking African Americans. Occurred all over the country. -
If We Must Die Published
Claude McKay poem written in response to the deaths of the "Red Summer" urging people to show honor and grace. Published in The Liberator. -
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Cause: The Roaring Twenties
Time during 1920's after WWI where American culture changed dramatically and the country was prosperous. This allowed for an event focused on intellectuals like the Harlem Renaissance to occur, focusing on change of culture. -
Shuffle Along performed on Broadway
The play written by four African Americans, Noble Sissle, Euble Blake, Flournoy Miller, and Aubrey Lyles, marked the first time a play on Broadway written and starring African Americans would have success. -
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Langston Hughes
One of the most influential writers of the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes publishes his first poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" while attending Columbia University in New York. His work reflects the values of the Harlem Renaissance, highlighting African American life and culture. Poetry collections such as "The Weary Blues" (1926) and "Fine Clothes for the Jew" (1927) would showcase his rhythmic jazz style of literature that had never before been seen. -
The Negro Speaks of Rivers published
One of the first publications from an eventual Harlem Renaissance literary leader Langston Hughes, written while crossing the Mississippi river on the way to visit his father in Mexico. -
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Countee Cullen's time in New York
Countee Cullen was a poet and writer during the Harlem Renaissance. After moving to New York University in 1922, Cullen found success with works such as "The Ballad of the Brown Girl" and Caroling Dusk. He would eventually be appointed leader of the Harlem chapter of the NAACP. Cullen remained in New York teaching literature and English until his death in 1946. -
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Bessie Smith
Discovered by Columbia records in 1923, Bessie Smith’s breakout hit “Downhearted Blues” sold over 800,000 copies. She would pair up with important jazz figures Fletcher Henderson and Louis Armstrong for songs like “Cold in Hand Blues” and “I Ain’t Gonna Play No Second Fiddle.” Smith’s career would take a hit when the depression came, until she changed her style to Swing. After reviving her career, Smith would die in a car accident at the age of 43. -
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Duke Ellington
Song
A pianist and bandleader during the Harlem Renaissance, Duke Ellington inserted himself into the Harlem scene after landing a gig at "The Exclusive" in Harlem, launching his and his band's career to where he would eventually play at the famous "Cotton Club." Ellington's work includes songs like "Takin' the A-Train" and "In a Sentimental Mood", as well as being credited with hundred of other songs for records, movies, and plays. -
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Paul Robeson
Paul Robeson was a leading actor during the Harlem Renaissance. As a former lawyer, resigning due to severe racism at his firm, he began his career as an Actor starring in his first movie “All God’s Chillun Got Wings” in 1924. Soon after, he became a beloved international figure speaking out against racism and participating in demonstrations like the anti-Nazi movement for the allies during WWII. Nearing the end of his life, he published his biography “Here I Stand” in 1958. -
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Louis Armstrong
Song
Louis Armstrong is one of the most influential artists from the Renaissance. Armstrong would move to New York and play Jazz music, helping push the genre to new heights. A Trumpeter, Armstrong would join the Fletcher Henderson band in Harlem. He also formed his own bands, including the "Hot Five" which was only for recording, and "The Stompers." Some of Armstrong's most famous songs include "What a Wonderful World" and "Baby, Its Cold Outside." -
Effect: Enter The New Negro published
Alaine Locke's book, The New Negro, showcases the importance of the Harlem Renaissance and how the "New Negro" needs to continue their influence on media to be respected. -
Propoganda
This image, originally on the front of the "Survey Graphic", depicts Harlem as the place where culture is being revolutionized. -
Effect: Smashing an Old Idol
Cartoon run in "The Defender" showing how the new "race spirit" was blowing up the white supremacist Antebellum culture throughout America. -
The Great Depression begins
The depression, brought upon by bank failures, marked the end of the prosperity experienced during the 1920's. This also led to the demise of the Harlem Renaissance due the increasingly difficult life in the city. -
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Dizzy Gillespie
Trumpeter and composer during the Jazz age, Gillespie pioneered the style known as “bebop” with songs such as “Groovin' High” and “Salt Peanuts.” Gillespie worked with other notable artists such as Duke Ellington. His bebop style is a variation of Jazz with faster tempo and complex chord changes. -
Their Eyes Were Watching God published
This book by Zora Houston is considered the last great workds of the Harlem Renaissance, even though it had died down considerably due to the Great Depression.
