Harlem

Renaissance HyperDoc

Part 1: Knowledge acquisition and investigation

STEP 1: Read about some of the individuals involved in the Harlem Renaissance. Each
artist/musician has a hyperlink. Choose 3 of the individuals to learn more about and fill in
the table below.
● Langston Hughes
● Zora Neal Hurston
● Louis Armstrong
● Paul Robeson
● Josephine Baker
● Aaron Douglas

Name of individual
Langston Hughes
What role did this person play in
the period described as the
“Harlem Renaissance?”
(musician, author, etc.)
Langston Hughes profession was a
writer.
Describe one of their most well
known pieces.
What lasting impression or
legacy was left by this person?
One of his most well known pieces
was “Harlam”. The poem was
 initially meant to focus on the
dreams of Blacks during the 1950s,
but is relevant to the dreams of all
people.Through his poetry, novels,
plays, essays, and children's books,
he promoted equality, condemned
racism and injustice, and celebrated
African American culture, humor,
and spirituality.

Paul Robeson He was a widely acclaimed actor His song "Ol' Man River" changed
and singer. the world and was one of best
pieces. The lyrics ("I'm tired of
living and scared of dying/ But ol'
man river, he just keeps rolling
along") are an expression both of
hope and despair. An advocate for
the human rights of people
throughout the world, Robeson
combined all of these activities into
a lifelong quest for racial justice.

Louis Daniel Armstrong
Louis Daniel Armstrong was an
American trumpeter and vocalist.
Louis Daniel Armstrong was most
known for a couple songs, one f
those being, “What a Wonderful
World' which is simply about
appreciating the beauty of your
surroundings. His lasting
impression was a black man living
and working in a segregated society,
he symbolized the civil rights
struggle that was part of the
changing America in which he
lived.

STEP 2: Look at the eight examples of artistic expression that were created during the
Harlem Renaissance. Choose 3 of the sources to examine in depth and fill in the table
below.

Source # Title of work Artist/Author Describe the piece and
it’s message
#6 I, Too, Sing America Langston Hughes This piece conveys the
by Langston Hughes message that he
acknowledges hes darker
than everyone else, but he
does the same things as
the whites. He is different
but should be included. “I,
Too” in the words and
title means that he is the
same, and wants to be
treated the same as the
What emotions does it
elicit and why?
This piece elicits emotions
of not belonging and
being desperate in a way.
Through this poem, hes
trying to convince himself
and whoevers reading
that he is the same and
wants to be included, and
that the color of
someones skin doesnt
define them, or differ
 rest.
Source I Look at the World Langston Hughes This piece conveys the
#7 by Langston Hughes message and outlook of
Langston Hughes. He
describes what he sees
from his perspective, and
how he feels trapped in
the world he lives in. He
says he acknowledges and
clearly sees the separation
between blac and white,
and how the color of your
skin determines how you
are treated and wht your
owed.
Source Enslaved (1921) by Claude McKay This piece conveys the
#3 Claude McKay message of how blacks felt
at this time. She talks
about how she doesnt feel
included, and it makes her
feel enslaved and trapped
inside a world and is
trying to punish her for
the way she was born and
something she has no
control over.
them from someone else.
This piece elicits emotions
of not belonging and
being desperate in a way.
Through this poem, hes
trying to convince himself
and whoevers reading
that he is the same and
wants to be included, and
that the color of
someones skin doesnt
define them, or differ
them from someone else.
This poem while different
from source #6, elicit the
same emotion and
conveys somewhat of the
same messages.
This piece elicits emotions
of feeling trapped and
controlled. Through this
poem she talks about the
suffrage that blacks have
felt and been through,
with no end in sight. She
talks about how her race
defines her quality of life,
and that she has no
control over it. She feels
and elicits the emotions of
feeling trapped and like a
puppet on a string, in a
world that limits and
looks down upon her
kind.
Part 2: Applying your knowledge
How do these works of art reflect the themes of the Harlem Renaissance and the 1920s?

Respond in a comprehensive paragraph that provides specific details and examples from the videos we
viewed in class and the first section of this hyperdoc. This should be thorough (10-12 COMPLETE
sentences, about 200-250 words).

TEMPLATE

1-2 sentences: Thesis (should include THREE TOPICS)

Example: _ works and _ arts reflect the themes of _ through the Harlem Renaissance and the
1920s. The theme of _ can be seen in _, _, and _.

6-8 sentences: T(opic) E(vidence) A(nalysis) for each part of the thesis (3 topics)
Example: In the artwork/music done by _ there is a common theme of _ (TOPIC). This theme of
_ can be seen in _ (EVIDENCE). _ reflects the Harlem Renaissance/1920s because of _
(ANALYSIS).

1-2 sentences: Conclusion

Example: _, _, and _ (TOPICS) all reflect the theme of _ which was seen through the Harlem
Renaissance and 1920’s in _, _ and _ (EVIDENCE).

STUDENT RESPONSE:
The works and art of Langston Hughes and Louis Armstrong reflect the themes of social injustice, black pride, and the
importance of music, particularly jazz and blues, to reflect and convey those themes through. These themes encompass and
are present through the Harlem Renaissance and the 1920s. In the artwork/music done by Langston Hughes, there is a
common theme of Black Pride and acknowledging social injustice. This theme of Black Pride can be seen in Hughes’s
poem, I, Too, Sing America, in which he describes and acknowledges his differences, but says he can do it all too. No
matter skin color or race, he has a talent and gift that he was given as a writer, and for that to be recognized his skin color
shouldn't matter. Langston talks about the segregation he has been accustomed to, and that he wants to leave that in the
past, and look toward the future, celebrating black culture. In lines 2-3 of the poem, he states he is darker than the rest of
America, and acknowledges the segregation he and many were accustomed to by saying he wasn't invited to the table, and
they sent him to the kitchen. In lines 16-17, the themes of celebration and Black pride are present because he's saying he is
special, and he won’t stand for this discrimination any longer. This was a huge part of the Harlem Renaissance and
ultimately reflected the ideals of celebrating their culture, and not standing or accepting discrimination any longer.
Langston Hughes and the theme of Black Pride reflect the Harlem Renaissance/1920s because the 1920s and Harlem
Renaissance was heavily focused on these ideals, that no matter your skin color, everyone can be something, and make
their way in the world. This was also a time, remarkably, one of the first times, that black culture was being celebrated and
encouraged to be themselves. In the artwork/music done by Louis Armstrong, there is a common theme of black pride and
celebration of culture, as well as reflection. This theme can be seen in the praise and way people reacted and interacted
with it, as his jazz music was popular in clubs, speakeasies, and dance halls, where black people would come for a good
time, and celebrate their culture. His highly praised song, “What a Wonderful World' which is simply about appreciating
the beauty of your surroundings, truly encompasses the Harlem Renaissance, and what they were celebrating and
admiring. This was important because Black musicians were being recognized and praised, which gave them the platform
to advocate for change, which is the lasting impression of Louis Armstrong. Louis Armstrong, and his music reflects the
Harlem Renaissance/the 1920s because they were finally able to be themselves and who they wanted to be. They were
finally making a claim to be modern and evolve in their own way, not being pushed down to punished for doing so. He
symbolized the civil rights struggle that was part of the changing America in which he lived, and used his gift of music to
bring people together, as one, which encompassed the Harlem Renaissance and 1920s main goal and point. The work of
Langston Hughes and Louis Armstrong reflect the themes of Black Pride, Social Injustice, and cultural celebration, which
was seen in and throughout the Harlem Renaissance.