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Harlem Renaissance Analysis

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The Harlem Renaissance took place during the 1920s-30s and was recognized for its advancements in music, art, and literature for African Americans. The Great Migration was one of the major factors that contributed to the movement of African Americans from their farms in the South to cities in the North in order to try to establish a better life and attain greater economic opportunities for themselves(The Harlem Renaissance). Many African Americans also wanted to be relieved from the harsh racism and impoverished standard of living which they had previously experienced in the South. A place in New York City known as Harlem was considered to be the center for African American life after the Civil War (Alchin). African Americans established many …show more content…

In "A Negro Explains 'Jazz'" the author explains how jazz tried to shift the seemingly known African American identity of being full of "mumbo jumbo" to being identified as "conscious, intelligent, talented soldiers that are loyal citizens to their country" (Anderson, ). Jazz was considered to be "America's art form," consisting of brass instruments and occasionally the piano (Larson, 2). Jazz during the Harlem Renaissance "offered a revealing measure of the movement's character" (Ogren, 116). Jazz music as it was popular amongst blacks also had begun to gain support from the white community as well (The Harlem Renaissance). Many jazz musicians performed at different clubs and bars around New York City and specifically in Harlem where others could come out for the night and enjoy exceptional …show more content…

Jazz was considered to "represent some of the best potentials that are inherent in the American conception of democracy including making sure that everyone has a place to have their own say" (Booke). This idea was central to African Americans discovering their identity in society because jazz allowed them to share their ideas and culture with everyone. Jazz caused "white patrons to flock to Harlem's jazz clubs and speakeasies where they would mingle with black locals" (Bodenner, 7). Jazz was seen to have knocked down a barrier between whites and blacks in which they could all interact with each other in a pleasant and entertaining way. Jazz music led to greater integration of African Americans and whites not only in terms of society, but in the industry as well. A jazz musician, Buster Bailey, recognized this and said "One thing I'm happy to see is the integration among musicians". Whites had been able to perform in several predominantly black bands which was something that was never done before (Zola). Along with mixture of whites into the black society in the form of performing, whites also spent a night going uptown to Harlem and enjoying some jazz music in bars and clubs that used to be limited only to African Americans. Whites and African Americans were able to intermingle at jazz clubs in ways that were illegal in other states (Booke). One

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