The Harlem Renaissance: Crash Course Theater #41

Summary

Crash Course Theater explores the Harlem Renaissance, a 1920s cultural movement in Harlem, New York, that revitalized African-American art, music, and literature. It countered racial stereotypes and celebrated Black identity, with artists like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston. The movement saw the rise of Black theater companies and plays, influencing Broadway and advocating for Black artists' visibility and societal equality.

Takeaways

• 🎭 The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement in the 1920s that revitalized art, music, and literature in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York.
• 🌟 It was a response to decades of racial stereotypes and served as a platform for African-American artists to express their experiences and challenge societal norms.
• 📚 The movement was initially termed the 'New Negro Movement' by Alain Locke and was characterized by a surge in African-American artistic expression.
• 👥 It was particularly significant for those who had migrated from the South during the Great Migration and for those from the Caribbean diaspora.
• 🎵 The artists of the Harlem Renaissance explored themes of alienation, discrimination, and the complexities of Black identity in a predominantly white society.
• 🖌️ The period saw a mix of artistic styles, from traditional African and African-American folk forms to modernist and jazz-influenced works.
• 🏛️ Despite segregation in theaters, the 1920s witnessed the rise of Black theater companies and the first all-Black Broadway productions.
• 🎭 The Krigwa Players, founded by W. E. B. Du Bois, were influential for insisting on works that were written, performed, and directed by Black artists.
• 📜 Du Bois outlined the principles for an African-American theater that should be about, by, for, and near the Black community.
• 🌐 The Harlem Renaissance had a significant impact on Broadway, with shows like 'Shuffle Along' and plays by African-American authors gaining recognition.
• 👩‍🎨 Key figures of the movement, such as Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, made substantial contributions to literature, theater, and the broader cultural discourse on race and identity.

Q & A

What was the Harlem Renaissance?

The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural, artistic, and social movement that spanned the 1920s, centered in Harlem, Manhattan. It encouraged a dynamic reawakening and reimagining of art, music, and literature, particularly by African-American artists, as a corrective to decades of stereotypes and discrimination.

How did the Harlem Renaissance challenge stereotypes and increase visibility for Black Americans?

The Harlem Renaissance invited African-American artists to practice forms of art that would shatter stereotypes, increase visibility, and uplift Black Americans. It allowed for the exploration of difficult themes such as alienation, discrimination, and the discomfort of performing Black identity in a white world.

What is 'double-consciousness' as described by W. E. B. Du Bois?

Double-consciousness is a term coined by W. E. B. Du Bois to describe the feeling of being Black and American at the same time, seeing oneself as simultaneously part of, and not part of society. It reflects the complex experience of African Americans navigating their identity in a predominantly white society.

What was the significance of the play 'In Dahomey' in the context of the Harlem Renaissance?

'In Dahomey' was a Broadway musical comedy written by and starring African-Americans in 1903. It was significant as it was one of the early works by Black composers that made it to Broadway, although it relied heavily on stereotypes. It represented a step towards the recognition of Black artists in the mainstream theater.

Who were some of the early Black theater companies during the Harlem Renaissance?

Early Black theater companies during the Harlem Renaissance included Anita Bush’s Bush Players (later called the Lafayette Players), the Ida Anderson Players, the Acme Players (which later became the National Ethiopian Art Theater), and the Negro Players.

What was the Krigwa Players and what was its significance?

The Krigwa Players, founded by W. E. B. Du Bois and Regina Anderson in 1925, was an influential African-American theater troupe. It was significant for its insistence that works be performed, written, AND directed by Black artists, which was a key principle of the Harlem Renaissance.

What were the four criteria for an African-American theater as outlined by Du Bois in 'The Crisis'?

Du Bois outlined four criteria for an African-American theater in 'The Crisis': 1) About us, meaning plots should reveal Negro life as it is; 2) By us, meaning written by Negro authors who understand what it means to be a Negro; 3) For us, meaning the theater should cater primarily to Negro audiences; 4) Near us, meaning the theater should be in a Negro neighborhood.

Why was the play 'Shuffle Along' significant in the history of African-American theater?

'Shuffle Along' was significant because it was a wildly successful jazz musical that introduced African-American music and dance to a broader audience. It featured notable figures like Josephine Baker and Paul Robeson and sparked a minor craze for African-American shows on Broadway.

Who were Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, and what were their contributions to the Harlem Renaissance?

Langston Hughes was a poet who had a Broadway hit with 'Mulatto' and established several theater companies. Zora Neale Hurston was a folklorist and novelist who won the 'Opportunity' playwriting contest. Both were key figures in the Harlem Renaissance, contributing significantly to literature, theater, and the celebration of African-American culture.

What is the play 'Don’t You Want to Be Free?' by Langston Hughes about, and how does it reflect the themes of the Harlem Renaissance?

‘Don’t You Want to Be Free?’ is a play by Langston Hughes that uses theater to make clear political points about the Black experience in America, including slavery, the Great Migration, and the struggle for civil rights. It reflects the themes of the Harlem Renaissance by incorporating poetry, music, and dance, and by advocating for unity and collective action for greater equality.