The Harlem Renaissance In The 1920's

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The Harlem Renaissance brought about many great changes in the 1920’s. It was time for the African-American culture to be expressed. Many things came about in the Harlem Renaissance such as jazz and blues, poetry, dancing, and musical theater. Harlem became one of the largest African-American communities in the United States. Many of people came to Harlem from all over the US, and other countries to witness some of the creative and interesting things the would change the outlook on the future of the African-American culture. Most of the things African-Americans did or started became popular around the world. Many great writers, artists, musicals, and the people that wrote them. Out of the many artists Aaron Douglas the painter, Claude McKay …show more content…

Aaron Douglas was one particular artist, who was known for being called “The Father of the Black American Art.” He created powerful images of African-American life and struggles. Douglas was born in Topeka, Kansas on May 26, 1899. He attended a trade school in 1906, but the school was destroyed by an earthquake, and he was apprenticed to a cabinet maker. In 1907 douglas met a man called walter jekyll. Jekyll encouraged him to write dialect verse, and later jekyll put some of douglas’ verses into music. He moved to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1917 and pursued his passion in graphic arts. Douglas earned his bachelor's degree in fine arts in 1922 and three years after he graduated he moved to Harlem in the year 1925. In 1926 douglas married Alta Sawyer and they lived in Harlem together. He illustrated many books like God's Trombone, by James Weldon Johnson, and Paul Morand's Black Magic. Aaron Douglas passed away at the age of 79, on February 2, 1979 in a hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. (“”) Aaron douglas influenced many artists in the Harlem Renaissance, and his impact on the life of Harlem will never be forgotten. Art isn't the only positive thing that came from the Harlem Renaissance, there was also a lot of inspiring books that were

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