Harlem Renaissance

Langston Hughes became a part of an exciting movement in New York, the Harlem Renaissance, a period of outstanding literary vigor and creativity that took place in the 1920s changing the character of art, music and literature created by black Americans. He was not alone. Meet the creative people, writers, musicians, artists who worked, played and lived in Harlem at that time. Click on the link above to watch the video.

Regina M. Andrews, born in Chicago, came to New York and became the assistant to Ernestine Rose at the Harlem Branch of the New York Public Library. She organized the Negro Experimental Theatre with Gwendolyn Bennett and was responsible for encouraging Charles S. Johnson to give the Civic Club dinner for young African-American writers in 1924. This dinner was the forerunner to the Harlem Renaissance because it brought together the young and elder African-American writers with a number of white editors and publishers. Paul Kellog of Survey Graphic, in fact, was sufficiently impressed and devoted an entire issue to the "New Negro."

Reading Photographs

During Harlem's transition in the early part of the twentieth century, many African-American photographers were opening studios and exhibiting their works in the Harlem community, especially during the 1920s and 1930s. Their clients were artists, entertainers, families, and visitors to Harlem. These photographers were producing works of lasting value, much of it was race conscious and many were romanticized portraits of dignified African-American men, women, and children. Some of the better known photographers were James Van der Zee, Walter Baker, James Latimer Allen, R.E. Mercer, twin brothers Marvin and Morgan Smith, Winifred Hall Allen, and Austin Hansen. Beginning in the 1920s and lasting through the 1940s there were many camera clubs in the New York area where members came together to discuss the latest techniques of photography.

Harlem Today

When you hear the name, "Harlem" what do you see? Record your responses before viewing the slide show.

Has you perception changed?

Building housing former president Bill Clinton's office.

Fidel Castro in 1960. Fidel Castro in Harlem

In 1960 Fidel Castro visited New York. He chose to stay at the Hotel Theresa in Harlem, rather than in one of the more posh hotels. There he met with prominent leaders, including Malcolm X and Langston Hughes. Castro continues to hold Harlem in high regard. During a more recent trip took him to the United Nations, he took time out to speak at a church in Harlem because he knew it was where he would find his “best friends.”