http://www.jubileejumpers.de/images/cotton-club.gifMillions of different cultures wandered to Harlem during the 1880’s, and because of this Harlem holds many different heritages and cultures. One of the main customs that all the cultures had in common was music. New sounds collided creating the amazing sound, flow and rhythm of the Harlem Renaissance.
At the time (the 1920’s – 1930’s this area served as the cultural capitol of black America, it was also the center of night life in the Big Apple. Most of the inhabitants of Harlem were not black but of Dutch decent. The few blacks that did live in the area held jobs such as club musicians but never were ever aloud admittance into the actual club.
There were many attempts for African Americans to start there own music productions but many failed at the attempt. The only recording companies to succeed at the time were Black Swan Records as well as Handy’s Music Publishing Business, both establish by Harry Pace in 1920.
Also during the Harlem Renaissance writers such as W.E.B. DuBois, Claude McKay, Zora Hurston, Countee Cullen, James Weldon Johnson, and Langston Hughes set themselves up for exceptional careers.
When thinking of the word Renaissance, thoughts such as rebirth of art music and culture come to mind, but why did it all take place in Harlem?
It’s because as the music shifted to Harlem more and more job opportunities appeared allowing one specific place for the music to settle and except adaptation and new sounds constantly.
There were 3 reasons why your average Black American at the time could join into the mainstream of America:
1. There was a sudden appreciation of anything that was created by the black community.
2. The poorer Black Americans were lead by Marcus Garvey (leader of the Black Panthers) who created the Back To Africa Movement which created a love for race pride.
3. The idea of the N.A.A.C.P was followed by many of the middle class Black Americans
Blacks also had the right to speak there mind and Magazines such as Crisis, Opportunity, Messenger, and the Amsterdam News provided this opportunity to share the word on topics such as music and government.
By this time, the mass migration of new musicians to Harlem had started with open doors to start a new music frenzy!
At the time (the 1920’s – 1930’s this area served as the cultural capitol of black America, it was also the center of night life in the Big Apple. Most of the inhabitants of Harlem were not black but of Dutch decent. The few blacks that did live in the area held jobs such as club musicians but never were ever aloud admittance into the actual club.
There were many attempts for African Americans to start there own music productions but many failed at the attempt. The only recording companies to succeed at the time were Black Swan Records as well as Handy’s Music Publishing Business, both establish by Harry Pace in 1920.
Also during the Harlem Renaissance writers such as W.E.B. DuBois, Claude McKay, Zora Hurston, Countee Cullen, James Weldon Johnson, and Langston Hughes set themselves up for exceptional careers.
When thinking of the word Renaissance, thoughts such as rebirth of art music and culture come to mind, but why did it all take place in Harlem?
It’s because as the music shifted to Harlem more and more job opportunities appeared allowing one specific place for the music to settle and except adaptation and new sounds constantly.
There were 3 reasons why your average Black American at the time could join into the mainstream of America:
1. There was a sudden appreciation of anything that was created by the black community.
2. The poorer Black Americans were lead by Marcus Garvey (leader of the Black Panthers) who created the Back To Africa Movement which created a love for race pride.
3. The idea of the N.A.A.C.P was followed by many of the middle class Black Americans
Blacks also had the right to speak there mind and Magazines such as Crisis, Opportunity, Messenger, and the Amsterdam News provided this opportunity to share the word on topics such as music and government.
By this time, the mass migration of new musicians to Harlem had started with open doors to start a new music frenzy!
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