Harlem Renaissance and the Emergence of Black Independence
Essential Question: Despite overt racism, how did Negro's improve life in the 1920's for themselves?
World War I: Beginnings of the Harlem Renaissance
One of the major developments during World War I that helped give rise to the Harlem Renaissance was the Great Migration. During the Great Migration many African Americans moved from the South to the North. This caused many African Americans to settle in urban areas and big cities such as Chicago, New York and other major cities. Another reason for the African Americans settling in Northern Industrial areas was because during World War I, there were many factory jobs available, and they took this opportunity to move North. The large concentration of African Americans in these urban areas led to many social changes for the African Americans.
One of the major developments during World War I that helped give rise to the Harlem Renaissance was the Great Migration. During the Great Migration many African Americans moved from the South to the North. This caused many African Americans to settle in urban areas and big cities such as Chicago, New York and other major cities. Another reason for the African Americans settling in Northern Industrial areas was because during World War I, there were many factory jobs available, and they took this opportunity to move North. The large concentration of African Americans in these urban areas led to many social changes for the African Americans.
How Racial Consciousness and Racial Pride Grew out of the Harlem Renaissance
Racial pride and racial consciousness grew out of the Harlem Renaissance because the African Americans were learning to be proud of the fact that they were black, and that they could have a culture different from those of the whites. This idea that they could have a different culture than the whites was a great new idea for them. The change in culture allowed blacks to have more independence from whites with their own ways of doing things. Jazz and new writings from African American authors gave blacks more pride because they could be proud that their race was accomplishing important things, and was creating a culture of it's own.
Racial pride and racial consciousness grew out of the Harlem Renaissance because the African Americans were learning to be proud of the fact that they were black, and that they could have a culture different from those of the whites. This idea that they could have a different culture than the whites was a great new idea for them. The change in culture allowed blacks to have more independence from whites with their own ways of doing things. Jazz and new writings from African American authors gave blacks more pride because they could be proud that their race was accomplishing important things, and was creating a culture of it's own.
Marcus Garvey's UNIA
Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) showed an emergence of blacks asserting themselves because it was started to help blacks, and was spreading quickly and gaining support. The UNIA started their own all black shipping line and also pushed for racial purity and separatism. Major complaints of the UNIA about society was that blacks were not treated equally, they are not given the right to public trial when approved of wrongs in some places, and they had separate schools for their kids that were not as good as the white schools. Also, they were angry about the segregation in society that resulted from the Jim Crow Laws. The UNIA showed how much blacks were starting to assert themselves.
Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) showed an emergence of blacks asserting themselves because it was started to help blacks, and was spreading quickly and gaining support. The UNIA started their own all black shipping line and also pushed for racial purity and separatism. Major complaints of the UNIA about society was that blacks were not treated equally, they are not given the right to public trial when approved of wrongs in some places, and they had separate schools for their kids that were not as good as the white schools. Also, they were angry about the segregation in society that resulted from the Jim Crow Laws. The UNIA showed how much blacks were starting to assert themselves.
Thinking Like a Historian
Since the Harlem Renaissance the African American society has improved greatly because of the black culture that was created during that time period. Also, African Americans have gained equal rights in America. The strong African American culture has somewhat stayed the same. They still have a strong culture that is very different from that of the white culture in some ways. The African American population as a whole has benefited from the equal rights for blacks because they have been able to have more freedom, and independence from white culture. Also, everyone else in the country has benefited from the change of equal African American rights and the expansion of the black culture because they have brought many new things such as jazz and literature that have impacted American culture in general greatly. Nobody has not benefited from the change because the expansion of black culture and the equal rights they have has made many improvements in society.
Response to Essential Question
Despite racism, the African Americans improved their lives in the 1920's by creating a unique culture for themselves and impacting American society as a whole. Their impact on society can be seen through their impact on music and literature, which has greatly helped society become better. Also, they were able to separate themselves from the white culture, allowing for them to have more racial pride.
Despite racism, the African Americans improved their lives in the 1920's by creating a unique culture for themselves and impacting American society as a whole. Their impact on society can be seen through their impact on music and literature, which has greatly helped society become better. Also, they were able to separate themselves from the white culture, allowing for them to have more racial pride.