Harlem Renaissance

“I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes. I do not mind at all. . . . I do not weep at the world — I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.”                   - Zora Neale Hurston

Questions:

1. Where do you think this picture was taken?

2. Why do you think this picture was taken?

3. What is the significance of this Zora Neale Hurston holidng up a book called “American stuff”? What does this picture imply?

4. Analyze the book covers on the shelves.  Do you notice anything peculiar about the book covers?

5. Examine the quote above and compare it to the picture.  Explain why she has a smirk on her face in the picture. 

6. Evaluate whether this picture advocates racial stereotypes of African Americans or celebrates an accomplishment for the African American community and falls in line with the goals of Harlem Renaissance.

1. Who are the musicians in the photo and what are they doing?

2. What is the purpose of the photo?

3. What is the Cotton Club and how did it get its name?

4. What do you notice about the musicians and what does this signify about the time period?

5. Using complete sentences, write a caption for the photo.

6. Evaluate the role the Cotton Club played in African American’s progress in society.

Harlem Street 1939 by Sid Grossman www.africanamericans.com

1. Describe the location of this picture.

2. Identify the people in this picture.  Who are they?   

3. Why are they porch sitting?

4. From this picture, analyze the freedoms that Blacks had in Harlem that they did not have in other places?

5. Summarize the Harlem Renaissance changed the social structure of the Black community.

6. Create a short narrative for one of the people in this picture: what are they doing, what are they saying, and who is this person in the Black community.

Blind Singer by William H. Johnson (1940)                             http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?object_id=82639

1. Describe the scene this picture is trying to portray.

2. Identify what the colors signify.

3. If the woman is playing the guitar, what is the man doing and holding? 

4. Compare and contrast this scene to street performers today, then analyze the role music played during the Harlem Renaissance compared to today. 

5. Evaluate how the Harlem Renaissance changed the men and women’s traditional roles.

6. Write one stanza (4 lines) of the song the two images are performing.  Be sure to make it relevant to music during the Harlem Renaissance. 

Bitternest #2: Harlem Renaissance Party by Faith Ringgold (1988) http://www.faithringgold.com/ringgold/d41.htm

1. What illustration is depicted on this quilt?

2. Identify key leaders during the Harlem Renaissance.

3. What are they celebrating?

4. Analyze the attire of the guests.  How does the attire signify the pride of the Black community during the Harlem Renaissance. 

5. Using complete sentences, write a caption to be displayed with this quilt.

6. Evaluate the role parties played in the social community of the Harlem Renaissance. 

Idylls of the Deep South by Aaron Douglas (1934)

1. Describe the two different scenes depicited in this photo.

2. What do you notice about the people as the light touches them?

3. Identify what the light might symbolize?

4. What was the importance of “community” and how did that play a role in the Harlem Renaissance?

5. Idyll means a carefree episode or experience, idealized.  Evaluate how the Harlem Renaissance is idealized through this painting.

6. Illustrate the relationship between this picture and Claude McKay’s poem “Enslaved”.