Harlem Renaissance Test Study Guide

What was Ellington's birth name?

His birth name was Edward Kennedy Ellington.

Why did Ellington change his name to Duke?

He was nicknamed 'Duke' because of his sophisticated demeanor, helping create an elegant public image.

What stereotypes did Ellington try to challenge with his public persona?

He challenged stereotypes that African American musicians were unrefined or inferior.

Where did Ellington first find steady work as a musician?

He found steady work performing at the Cotton Club in Harlem.

Which other Harlem artists may have influenced Ellington's development?

Artists like Bessie Smith and W.C. Handy.

What was the cultural impact of 'Black, Brown and Beige'?

The piece highlighted African American history and culture while educating audiences and celebrating Black identity.

What aspect of music did Ellington's manager want him to focus on?

His manager wanted him to focus on radio.

Why was performing at the Cotton Club and Carnegie Hall significant for Ellington?

These respected venues helped legitimize jazz as an art form.

What other artist has a similar emphasis on 'sacred music' as Ellington?

W.C. Handy.

Who else received honorary doctorate degrees like Ellington?

Paul Robeson.

How did Ellington's music champion ideas of the Harlem Renaissance?

His music promoted African American culture and identity while challenging racism.

Who is another artist from this unit who had a similar attachment to Harlem?

Paul Robeson.

Empress of the Blues

Title given to Bessie Smith reflecting her major influence and dominance in blues music.

Street performances with her brother

Bessie Smith began performing on the streets with her brother who played guitar before joining a touring minstrel show.

W.C. Handy

A musician with a similar blues background who collaborated with Bessie Smith on multiple projects.

Move to Northern cities

Smith moved to cities like Philadelphia for recording opportunities and access to larger audiences.

Columbia Records

The influential record label that Smith signed with, helping to spread her music widely.

Downhearted Blues

Bessie Smith's first breakthrough hit that resonated due to its emotional depth and sold 780,000 copies in six months.

Themes in Smith's music

Major themes include poverty, oppression, love, and defeat, reflecting the struggles highlighted in the Harlem Renaissance.

The Great Depression

Historical event that harmed Smith's career by reducing money for entertainment and affecting the music industry.

Rumors surrounding Smith's death

Rumors suggested denial of proper medical treatment due to racial inequality, reflecting issues addressed by the Harlem Renaissance.

Back-Water Blues

A notable song by Smith focusing on survival, loss, and struggle, based on real flooding events.

Lasting figure in music

Bessie Smith's powerful voice, emotional storytelling, and focus on real-life struggles helped preserve Black culture and shape music history.

What was Robeson's father's job?

His father was a minister.

Who else from the Harlem Renaissance shared the same background as Robeson regarding his father's job?

W.C. Handy was also the son of a minister.

Where did Robeson first discover his talent for singing?

He discovered it in the church where his family encouraged him.

How did Robeson's discovery of his singing talent differ from other Harlem artists?

He was more directly guided by family support.

What did Robeson study at Columbia University?

He studied law.

How is Robeson's education related to his later work?

His education relates to his work as an activist and public speaker.

What academic achievement allowed Robeson to attend college on scholarship?

His academic excellence earned him a scholarship to Rutgers.

What were the major career paths Robeson pursued before acting and singing?

He was an athlete and then a lawyer.

What kind of music did Robeson popularize that was previously underrepresented?

African American spirituals.

What roles did Robeson take as an actor, and how did they differ from Josephine Baker?

He played both Black and white roles, unlike others who were limited to more stereotypical roles.

What political ideologies did Robeson express interest in later in life?

He showed interest in communist or socialist ideas.

Why did Robeson and other artists gravitate towards these political ideologies?

These ideologies promoted equality and opposed racial discrimination.

What major political movements did Robeson vocally oppose?

He opposed fascism, colonization, and racism.

What reasons did Robeson have for opposing these movements?

They promoted inequality and oppression.

What lasting impact did Robeson have on the perception of African Americans?

He spread awareness of African American struggles globally and elevated Black culture.

In what field did Robeson's work have the most profound impact?

Music, specifically popularizing spirituals.

Why did Robeson learn to speak and sing in other languages?

To connect with people globally and share African American culture.

What makes Robeson's career unique compared to other Harlem artists?

He had a diverse career as an athlete, lawyer, actor, singer, and global activist.

Walker's birth name

Sarah Breedlove.

Why did Walker change her name?

She changed it to Madam C.J. Walker after her business became successful.

Walker's background with W.C. Handy

Both were born to formerly enslaved parents and had difficult early lives, motivating their success.

Age when Walker first got married

14 years old.

Age when Walker had her first child

17 years old.

Significance of Walker's educational background

She had little formal education and few money-making skills, unlike many Harlem Renaissance artists who had advanced education.

What was Walker's first major product?

A shampoo to treat her scalp disease and hair loss.

Market focus of Walker's products

She marketed her products toward Black women, significant for representing a neglected demographic.

Philanthropic contributions by Walker

Donated to YMCA projects, elderly homes, scholarships for Black students, and anti-lynching efforts.

Name of Walker's mansion

Villa Lewaro.

Significance of Villa Lewaro

Served as a social and political hub during the Harlem Renaissance.

Duration of Walker's business career

Started her business after age 38 and became the first African American self-made female millionaire.

Walker's influence on healthcare

Her products improved health and care for Black hair and contributed to better healthcare practices for African Americans.

Marketing strategy of Walker

Used herself as the brand, presented products as part of a scientific system, and created professional advertising that built trust.

What was DuBois's real name?

William Edward Burghardt DuBois.

What major event was DuBois born shortly after?

He was born after the Civil War.

How could the Civil War have influenced DuBois's development?

He grew up during a time when Black American identities were still being formed.

What major area of study is DuBois considered a founder of?

Sociology.

Why is DuBois a founder of Sociology?

He taught it and led empirical studies at Atlanta University.

What was significant about the town DuBois grew up in?

Only 2 out of 4000 residents were African American.

How did the demographics of DuBois's hometown shape his experiences?

They shaped his experiences and opportunities.

What significant accomplishments did DuBois have while in high school?

He excelled academically and wrote articles for regional newspapers.

What school did DuBois attend for university but later drop out of?

Fisk University.

What two reasons led DuBois to leave Fisk University?

He transferred after three years to attend Harvard, and Jim Crow racism deepened his awareness of racial division.

What major subjects did DuBois teach after earning his PhD?

Classics, modern languages, and sociology.

What is significant about the subjects DuBois taught?

They demonstrate his broad intellectual influence and role in advancing education for African Americans.

What is a Pan-African Congress?

A series of meetings bringing together African, Caribbean, and African American leaders.

What are the goals of the Pan-African Congress?

To end colonial rule, promote political rights, and encourage global unity among Black communities.

How does the Pan-African Congress connect to the Harlem Renaissance?

Its focus on Black identity and advancement aligns with the ideals of the Harlem Renaissance.

What is DuBois's concept of 'The Talented 10th'?

The idea that the top 10% of educated African Americans should lead and uplift the community.

How might 'The Talented 10th' concept help the Harlem Renaissance?

By promoting leadership and education.

What could be a detrimental effect of 'The Talented 10th' concept?

It may place too much power in a small elite group.

What two major works did DuBois write that influenced his vision?

The Souls of Black Folk and Black Reconstruction in America.

Why are these works important?

They analyze the African American experience and challenge racist historical narratives.

Who did DuBois famously conflict with?

Booker T. Washington.

What were the differing ideas of Washington and DuBois?

Washington supported gradual progress and vocational education, while DuBois fought for immediate equality and higher education.

What major organization did DuBois help found?

The NAACP.

What lasting impact did the NAACP have?

It fought for civil rights and influenced future civil rights movements.

What political ideology did DuBois lean towards later in life?

Communism.

Why did DuBois champion communism?

He believed it promoted a society without racial hierarchy.

Where did DuBois move to later in life?

Ghana.

What was significant about Handy's upbringing in Alabama?

He was born in Florence, Alabama, which had a higher level of racial tolerance than the rest of the state.

How is Handy's ancestry notably different from other famous Harlem figures?

His father and grandfather were freed slaves, unlike figures like Langston Hughes or W.E.B DuBois, who often had partial white ancestry.

What other artists would Handy have likely interacted with?

Other African American entertainers in the Black entertainment industry, especially those with touring groups like Mahara's Minstrels.

Why did Handy's father disapprove of his career choice?

He believed music not made for the Lord was sinful and associated with the devil.

How does Handy's music align with the themes of Langston Hughes's poetry?

His music helped bring African American cultural expression to a wider audience and reflected the experiences of Black communities.

What was the common public perception of blues and jazz before Handy's influence?

They were seen as low-brow and associated with nightlife and lower-class African Americans.

How did Handy help change the perception of blues music?

He formalized blues music, wrote it in Western notation, and brought it to wider and more respected audiences.

What jobs did Handy hold prior to his music career?

He worked as a teacher and in factory jobs, which helped him develop discipline and exposure to broader communities.

What lyric pattern did Handy help popularize?

The AAB lyric pattern.

What are some examples of the AAB lyric pattern in music?

Blues songs like 'St. Louis Blues' follow this repeated-line pattern structure.

What was Handy's most famous piece of music?

St. Louis Blues.

Why was 'St. Louis Blues' significant to audiences and the Harlem Renaissance?

It became highly influential, widely recorded, and helped define early blues music for national audiences.

Why is Handy's title of 'Father of the Blues' considered controversial?

Because he did not invent the blues; he only formalized and popularized it.

What previous style of music inspired the blues genre?

Spirituals.

How are spirituals and blues linked?

Both reflect African American experiences and were originally passed down through oral traditions.

What major event changed Handy's later life?

He fell off a New York City subway platform, fractured his skull, and became blind and wheelchair-bound.

What does the W.C. Handy award signify?

It recognizes outstanding achievements in blues music, including performance, songwriting, and recording.

How does someone earn the W.C. Handy award?

By contributing significantly to keeping the blues tradition alive.