Harlem Renaissance

James Van Der Zee

  • Photographed the middle class

    • Added fake jewelry to photos

    • Edited photos with graphite pencil

    • Also added color to photos

    • IMPACT: prosperous Middle Class so they should not leave for Africa



Paul Robeson

  • Singer + Actor

    • Ol’ Man RIver

    • Characterized the never ending struggle of black people

    • Deep baritone voice, pacing, dialect

    • Inspired generations of black people (ex. Viola David, Kendrick Lamar)



Jean Toomer

  • Novelist

    • Cane

    • Challenged stereotypes through writing



Claude Mckay

  • Poet

    • Heritage

    • Africa is more of a symbol and not connection to heritage



Josephine Baker

  • French entertainer

    • Banana skirt



Lois Mailou Jones

  • Visual Artist

    • Used collages, watercolor



Aaron Douglas

  • Painter

    • University of Nebraska – originally a teacher

    • Supported by Charles S Johnson

    • Eventually given job by Du Bois (mail room of crisis)

    • Egyptian Art to depict bodily portions

    • Used geometric shapes and mixed it with western styles such as cubism

    • Made visual art his identity/strength by combining with western art styles

Louis Armstrong

  • Musician

    • Played trumpet and sang

    • King Olver’s Band

    • Then joined Fletcher Henderson’s band (NYC)

    • “Hello Dolly” charted

    • Identity, social and racial issues, heritage,

    • “Black and Blue” evokes frustration of being POC

    • Influenced artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra



James Weldon Johnson

  • writer/poet/educator/lawyer/diplomat/civil rights leader

    • Gave voice to the struggles , triumphs, and complexities of black life in America

    • Mentored Langston Hughes and Claude Mckay

    • Incorporated biblical references in his work

    • Critiqued notion of assimilation 



Duke Ellington

  • Musician

    • Billy Strayhorn - wrote 40% of Ellington’s music

    • The Ellington Effect - Tonal Personalities

    • Black and Tan Fantasy - plunger on trumpet to mimic human voice

    • Black, Brown, and Beige - tells story of black people starting from slavery

    • Brown - tribute to 700 haitians

    • Two saxes - two sides of a story

    • Sugar Hill Penthouse, Sophisticated Waltz - Africans are sophisticated, deserve to live a life of privilege 

    • Changed how music was composed - gave each instrument and individual voice

    • Refused to perform in front of segregated audiences



Horace Pippins

  • Artist

    • Right arm was completely paralyzed when fighting in WW1

    • First black artist to have monograph

    • Tended to use vibrant colors and composition

    • Blended realism with symbolism

    • Oil painting was his main form of expression

    • One of the few black artists to mainstream his art

    • Focused on racial struggles as well as black culture and history

    • Personal and collective suffering, triumph, and identity

    • His work is still shown to this day



Archibald Motley Jr.

  • Artist

    • Relationship was kept secret because they were different ethnicities

    • Wanted to use art to show Africans in positive light

    • Influenced by WEB Du Bois and John Locke

    • Influenced by Jacob Lawrence, Kara Walker

    • First african american to hold exhibition

    • Gained fellowship - allowed him to moved to Paris



Gwendolyn Bennett

  • Poet

    • Educated in Paris

    • Heritage - cultural roots

    • Interracial marriage