During the Harlem Renaissance, Music was the most influential form of creativity
In the Reconstruction Era, the white supremacist regimes in the South of the United States of America denounced the Civil Rights Act that was passed in 1875 to protect African Americans. The whites denied individuals from the origin of Africa their political and civil rights. They did this by conducting vigilante violence like terrorizing African Americans with killing mobs. The victims on realizing the potential in the North and Midwest regions – their economies had grown drastically, and individuals in these areas were not as racist as compared to those in the South- embarked on a journey to these areas. At the beginning of the 20th century, thousands of African Americans relocated to these regions, and the journey got coined the Great Migration. Most of them settled in Harlem, and brought a cultural revolution in the locality, termed as Harlem Renaissance (Hutchinson 20). Many forms of art developed at this period; however, music was the most influential.
Music
Initiation and Growth
The migration led to the concentration of people with great minds and talents. The individuals engaged in different forms of art, although music was the first to be noticed and served as a foundation for the rest. The music fell under the jazz and blues genres and expressed the philosophical perspectives and longings of the African American. Nonetheless, Jazz originated from the clubs and bars of Storyville District in New Orleans. Speculations state that Jazz was invented in 1902 by Jelly Roll Morton (Hilliard n.p.). It was until in 1905 when Jazz arrived in New York at a theater in Proctor 23rd street. The band that introduced this rhythm in New York was known as Memphis Students, and they made use of the orchestra, banjos, mandolins, saxophones, guitars, and drums altogether. Harlem absorbed the culture some months later, and its birth was in Street Musical Hall with the musical play being Shuffle Along.
The blues and Jazz changed the music world in Harlem/ New York up to the 21st century to their revolutionized form, Rap. Jazz dominated the first three decades of the 20th century, as the reception of the music increased to urban centers in the northern sides like New York City and Chicago during and post-World War I. And ultimately to the European counties. In the 1930s, theatre music transformed into a piece of music characterized by performing groups. The reception for this type of music reduced due to too much dance performances and reduced quality of music; this resulted in the creation of Bebop. This type came to be known as modern Jazz (Hilliard n.p.). Also, State of intellectualism was established to bring back music’s clarity. Later on, in the 1940s blues and Jazz got a strong beep and Rhythm and Blues was coined, the transformation continued to Rock ‘n’ Roll in 1950s, Soul in 1960s, Discos in 1970s and in closing of the decade, Rap emerged, which exists to date.
Impact on New York Residents
Music boosted the economy of New York as numerous distinct individuals earned a living from it. Either through being an artist or owning a club. The most celebrated names in Jazz are Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Miles Davis, Benny Goodman, and Charles Parker (Hilliard n.p). All of these individuals were involved with other arts or occupations, but on producing Jazz songs, they became prestigious. Music simultaneously led to the growth of clubs, with the famous ones being The Cotton Club, Ed Smalls Paradise, Conies Inn, among others. African-American’s music played a significant role in these businesses. It is portrayed by the fact that The Cotton Club “featured all black performers although no blacks were permitted as a guest” (Hilliard n.p.)
Impact on Literature and other arts
In 1921, music had an international appeal and, coupled with sheer virtuosity, encouraged black intellectuals to be innovative. It led to developments in choral programs, Broadway musicals, concert music, and literature. For instance, Noble Sissle’s and Eubie Blake’s musical show, Shuffle, which was launched in 1921 in Broadway, shaped the black musicals for around 50 years. Also, Josephine Baker, who began as a chorus girl in a renown revue became an international star in a Paris show, titled La Revue negre.
Music also influenced literature development, mostly in poems and books. The likes of Jean Toomer were inspired by the Jazz and Southern folk songs and consequently resulted in them modifying the lyrics into a multigeneric book, Cane. In the book, the author restrains himself from depicting and moralizing disputes but instead integrates the phrases, symbols, and rhythms of the African- American songs. In 1927, Langston Hughes transformed the blues to poetic forms in his book, Fine Clothes to the Jews. The poems gave answers to the needs and desires of the adult African American. It was closely followed by Sterling Brown’s poems and ballads that incorporated the folk heritage’s spirit. Overall, music resulted in the growth of other arts like poetry, fashion, and drama. (Hutchinson 23)
Impact on Society’s Relationships
The Harlem Renaissance changed the nation in numerous ways. Although the socioeconomic conditions were worsening – Ku Klux Klan had the maximum number of membership and managed to politically persuade regions in Midwest and South – during the renaissance, the black leaders believed that artistry would promote the relations of races in tandem with improving relations between the African Americans (Encyclopaedia Britannica, n.p.). Individuals, mostly African Americans, were instilled new social consciousness, a new spirit of pride and self-determination, and obligation to political activism. The jazz band at that time utilized the Harlem Stride Style, which entailed a piano and instruments made from brass. The former musical instrument was linked with the wealthy people, while the latter symbolized the South. Due to this, the poor and elite African Americans became connected.
Apart from bringing together musicians, poets, and writers, the renaissance also attracted political activists and philosophers. The activists, together with the help of white social reformers, fought for social justice. For instance, William Dubois, the leader of the Great Migration and a writer, played a significant role in the organization of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) at the beginning of the 20th century.
Further, the Harlem Renaissance (mostly between 1918 to 1930) produced the finest known black musicians, authors, and entertainers, with a substantial number of them being women. It, in turn, gave the women the notion of being “respectable women” (Wall 58). Ultimately this resulted in club women and blues women. The wants of the latter consisted of economic independence and partaking in certain luxuries like gambling, whereas the former’s motives were to create equality between the African Americans and whites, as well as in females and males. Here, they tackled problems ranging from lynching, women’s suffrage, and family planning. Additionally, Jazz songs and Jazz clubs – coupled with other factors like World War I, the implementation of the 19th Amendment, and Henry Ford’s mass production of cars – led to the rise of the Flappers (Wall 94). These were mostly young women who were popular for their energetic freedom and queer lifestyle, which was regarded as immoral by many people. Nonetheless, these independent women advocated for the independence of women by pushing barriers in political, economic, and sexual freedom aspects.
Conclusion
The Harlem Renaissance was an artistic, cultural, and social explosion that befall in Harlem, New York. The movement of African-Americans expedited this historical revolution at the outset of 1890. They moved to the North and Midwest regions of the United States, with a substantial number of them inhabiting Harlem. They were attracted to these regions because racism was minimal, and jobs were in abundance, which was contrary to their home regions in the South. The renaissance culminated from the 1920s up to the mid-1930s. Harlem developed into a cultural center, and the transformation was regarded as the reincarnation of African-American arts as it drew musicians, writers, poets, scholars, and photographers to a place they could express their talents freely. Music was the most influential art in the renaissance as it practically impacted every aspect of society. Foremost, it transformed into the current Rap, and through the way, it led to musicians being members of the hall of fame. It had a considerable impact on the development of literature and other arts like poetry, dancing, shows, among others. On top of these, it cemented the bonds between individuals, primarily the whites and African-Americans. In turn, advocating for equality.
Works Cited
Encyclopedia Britannica, I. (2003). The new encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Harlem-Renaissance-American-literature-and-art/Poetry
Hilliard, Kenneth B. “Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute.” Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute, www.teachersinstitute.yale.edu/curriculum/units/1989/1/89.01.05.x.html Accessed 28 Apr. 2020.Hutchinson, George. The Harlem Renaissance in black and white. Harvard University Press, 1995.
Wall, Cheryl A. Women of the Harlem renaissance. Indiana University Press, 1995.
Wilson, Matthew A. “Historic jazz piano styles in live performance, 1900-1940: an honors recital (HONRS 499).” 1992.