Harlem Renaissance and Social Changes in the 1920s

The Great Migration and Black Cultural Renaissance

• The Great Migration: Major movement of African Americans from the rural South to urban North in the early 20th century (post World War I).

• Reasons for Migration:

  • Escape violence and oppression of Jim Crow laws.
  • Search for better industrial jobs and living conditions.

• Key Areas of Settlement:

  • Significant black neighborhoods, notably in:
  • South Side of Chicago
  • Harlem in New York City.

• Harlem Renaissance:

  • Period of unprecedented cultural flourishing in black art, music, and literature during the 1920s.
  • Harlem became a hub for influential cultural activities and gatherings, shaped the identity of African Americans.

• Cultural Contributions:

  • Music Venues:
  • Cotton Club: Hosted black performers, with Duke Ellington as a significant figure.
  • Duke Ellington: Renowned for orchestrated jazz and cultural influence; performed iconic songs like "Take the A Train".

• Literature and Arts:

  • Notable Figures:
  • Langston Hughes: Major poet and influential writer on Black identity.
  • Zora Neale Hurston: Celebrated for her storytelling related to African American experiences.
  • Photographers: James Van Der Zee documented Harlem life capturing black families and culture.
  • Visual Artists:
    • Aaron Douglas: Known as the father of African American painting; created visuals like "From Slavery to Freedom".
    • Jacob Lawrence: Focused on the Great Migration in his series of paintings.

• Cultural Significance:

  • The Harlem Renaissance aimed to display the richness of black culture and advocated for civil rights, described as "civil rights by copyright".

• NAACP's Role in Civil Rights:

  • Founded in 1909, advocating for the rights of African Americans.
  • James Weldon Johnson: First black executive secretary of the NAACP, pivotal in bringing attention to lynching and inequalities faced by Black Americans.
  • Campaigns for anti-lynching law which faced opposition, reflecting ongoing challenges against racism.
  • Connection to broader civil rights movements extending into the 1920s and beyond.

Social Change: The New Woman

• The New Woman: Represents the evolution of women’s roles during the 1920s, breaking from Victorian ideals towards personal freedom and independence.

• Fashion Changes:

  • Shift from conservative Victorian clothing to more liberating styles like knee-length dresses.
  • Emergence of the flapper: Women who embodied this shift, embraced freedom, social independence, smoking, drinking, and more liberal attitudes towards sexuality.

• Conflicting Perspectives on Flappers:

  • Negative judgement from some conservative moralists and traditional feminists of the earlier progressive era.
  • Despite criticism, flappers represented a vital shift in social norms regarding sexuality and womanhood.

Margaret Sanger and Birth Control Movement

• Margaret Sanger's Role:

  • Important figure in advocating for women’s reproductive rights through the establishment of family planning clinics.
  • Sanger witnessed the dangerous consequences of unplanned pregnancies and illegal abortions.
  • The fight for contraceptive access was crucial in empowering women and allowing for their liberation in the 1920s.

• Legal Background:

  • Comstock laws (1873): Prohibited the distribution of contraceptive information and materials.
  • Sanger risked arrest; she opened a clinic in 1916, faced prosecution but became a symbol of the birth control movement.

• Evolution of Sanger's Legacy:

  • Established the American Birth Control League, leading to modern family planning organizations, notably Planned Parenthood.
  • Ongoing conversation about sexual freedom and women's rights has roots in Sanger's activism, despite her controversial views on eugenics.

• Cultural Impact:

  • The liberation of women during the Jazz Age would not have occurred without the foundational concepts established by previous reform movements.