The Harlem Renaissance: The Great Migration In New York City

During the span of the 1920s, The Harlem Renaissance was starting to take off. The development and expansion of the Harlem neighborhood in New York City are what gave this renaissance its name. The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural stand up for African-Americans that involved black writers, artists, and musicians to embrace their black heritage and show others across the nation what blacks are capable of.

The Manhattan neighborhood of Harlem was meant to be strictly white in the 1880s, but they overdeveloped the neighborhood too fast which led to many empty buildings. In the 1900s, middle-class black families started to move to Harlem, the white residents of the neighborhood tried to keep them out but failing at this, they eventually left the neighborhood. Figures like Du Bois led many African-Americans from the South to the North in what became known as the Great Migration. In 1915 and 1916 many natural disasters happened in the South, which caused black workers to be out of jobs, so they had to move up North. The Great Migration played a big part in the Harlem Renaissance by getting millions of black people up North, who eventually contributed to the Renaissance.

Often called “The New Negro Movement”, the Harlem Renaissance was widely known for its Jazz music.

Individuality blossomed during the 1920s and jazz was the perfect way to express individualism. Jazz was the “peoples” music, it was for the soul. Nightclubs were the perfect way to embrace jazz music. The Harlem Renaissance was largely defined by the clubs and characters who constantly made jazz music better and better. Duke Ellington and Jelly Roll Morton were the top men in jazz music. Many people would go out to nightclubs every night to hear them and others play. Harlem Renaissance music was more than music for most people, it was a way of

life.
The Harlem Renaissance was not only a party scene it was a literary movement. Most people at the nightclubs were serious writers. Literature during this movement was powerful and meaningful. Many black writers stepped up and allowed their talents be known to the world. This was the moment that African-American literature became its own. This movement was a rebirth of literature, and a major deal since slavery had only been abolished for a short time.
Harlem Renaissance art was very bold and represented an expressionist fashion. Most of the art portrayed African-Americans dancing, singing, laughing, and having a good time as free citizens. During this time art was being widely used to break down stereotypes of African-Americans. Another common theme during the Harlem Renaissance was art that related to Africa or put emphasis on the continent. It was a way of glorifying African heritage and connecting it with social progress.
The biggest hit on the Harlem Renaissance was the Great Depression in the 1930s. Many could not afford nightclubs anymore and others couldn’t sell their music or paintings. The Harlem Renaissance has paved a way for many black musicians and artists to rise up to the top. Jazz music from the 1920s inspired artists like Billie Holiday who continued to help evolve jazz music. Even today in 2018 we can still see how the Harlem Renaissance lives on in our society. Movies like Black Panther have several references to African tribes and black heritage much like how the art in the Harlem Renaissance. The idea behind the Harlem Renaissance will continue to inspire our nation to embrace black heritage and American culture.