Harlem Stride Piano: The Harlem Renaissance's Artifact Movement

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Nima Mirzai
Cultural Artifact Project
Harlem Stride Piano
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement in the African American community during the 1920’s where music, art, and literature prospered. A migration of African Americans from the south to the north created a cultural eruption. Harlem was one of the meccas that attracted artists and writers from all across the country to head north, and one of its most famous products was the Harlem Stride Style piano. I will look to further investigate this artifact of music, and delve into its role regarding how it not only contributed to the uniting of African Americans, but also to the discourse between African American musicians, and white audiences. My goal is that at the end of this essay “you” the reader will be able to realize the cultural significance of this artifact, how it shows the clash of multiple cultures in the United States during the 1920’s, and its impact on our culture today.
During the 1920’s we saw the first major public recognition of African-American culture. Prior to the 1920’s African Americans in the south were still struggling to find an identity, as Jim Crow laws were constantly oppressing them. With the United States involvement in WWI, and the lack of cheap European immigrant labor in the north there was a great opportunity for African Americans to escape the south. This migration of southern blacks carried with it many southern cultural influences, especially in music. Harlem Stride style piano was a result of this clash of culture and musical styles, and is a significant artifact in regards to how it represents the forward movement of African American culture as well as the integration and clash of white and black culture. I will now look cl...

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... and percussion instruments were intertwined. This new style was played predominately in clubs and attracted white audiences from all around. This then created another dialogue and narrative of whites appreciating black culture and entertainment recognizing and further realizing the mass appeal and potential for these artists. In all this along with the other cultural contributions of the Harlem Renaissance played part in creating a cultural shift. Not only were African Americans more united, but their status it would seem in regards to the arts was raised as well. Even though Harlem Stride style piano and Jazz music may not be the sole reason that the Harlem Renaissance was able to revive African American pride and culture, it did however keep the spirit of the movement alive and allowed African American musicians to have a lasting effect on American society.

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