"Petition of Many Slaves" by Jacob Lawrence

The image is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced; click here to view on the Jacob and Gwen Knight Lawrence Foundation website

The purpose of this painting is to show the struggle of the African Americans who were enslaved and show the violence of it. In the painting, both whites and blacks are armed and are fighting each other. Blood is also visible. It seems as if the blacks are climbing up, which could possibly be portraying the upward battle that African Americans were fighting. This reflects the time period because it portrays a struggle for freedom, which was still being fought for during the Civil Rights Movement with violent acts by both sides.

"We Insist! Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite" by Max Roach and Oscar Brown

"We Insist!" was an album written to comment on and reflect the feelings behind the Civil Rights Movement. The cover shows a picture of a sit-in, a common protest tactic. The concert was planned to be performed in 1963 on the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, thus drawing attention to the fact that the promise made by the Proclamation had not been fulfilled and that African Americans were fighting for it. This reflects the time period very well, from the title "Freedom Now Suite" to the picture reflecting the protests of the Movement to the plan to perform the songs during the centennial of the Proclamation.

"I Have a Dream" by Martin Luther King, Jr.

The purpose of this famous speech is to announce that the time has come for black Americans to be given the freedom granted by the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He compares this to cashing a check which in the past was deemed "insufficient funds," saying that the Bank of Justice has no shortage of funds. He also expresses the hope that people of all races, colors, creeds, and religions can live in peace and "join hands" and that America will live up to its ideals of freedom. In the speech, he makes clear that the Civil Rights Movement is not going to die without achieving its goals; those who think it will are in for a rude awakening.

This fits in well with the time period as it is basically a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement, at least of King's movement. It expresses the hope of King and his followers of racial equality rather than black power as preached by Malcolm X, and draws upon the Constitution and Declaration of Independence in saying that these rights are owed to African Americans.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

The purpose of Their Eyes Were Watching God is to promote independence. The protagonist does not care what anyone thinks of her but does what she wishes as she searches for "self fulfillment."
This fits in with the time period because of its depiction of African American culture, and it also takes place partially in Eatonville, the first all African American town to be incorporated and thus a symbol of progress for African Americans. Another idea of the Harlem Renaissance was diversity of expression, and this book reflects that well because some African Americans did not agree with the way certain things in the book were depicted, such as the way lighter- and darker-skinned African Americans viewed each other.

Aspects of Negro Life: From Slavery Through Reconstruction by Aaron Douglas

Originally a mural, the purpose is to highlight African American culture, and perhaps the fact that it has triumphed over slavery considering the title. One can easily see the drums and the trumpet, showing the importance of music. The setting appears to be a jungle, and there are jungle animals in the background. This may be a reflection of the artists African heritage, since there are jungles there.

This relates to the time period because music was an important part of the Harlem Renaissance even though it is considered primarily literary. Also, the depiction of African Americans' roots, history, and culture are common themes of the Harlem Renaissance.

Cover of Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man: Book by James Weldon Johnson

This book serves to highlight the extreme prejudice against African Americans and the privileges that were only available to whites, doing this by telling the story of a light-skinned African American who chooses to allow people to think he is white in order to provide safety and comfort for his family rather than use his musical talent to bring glory to African Americans. The book also describes a lynching where a black man is burned to death and the prejudice the main character felt when he was looked down upon in school.

This reflects the time period because it revealed aspects of African American culture that white readers would have not realized and highlights the struggles of African Americans.

Bessie Smith

Downhearted Blues: Composed by Alberta Hunter and Lovie Austin, sung by Bessie Smith

Downhearted Blues

Gee, but it's hard to love someone
When that someone don't love you

I'm so disgusted, heart-broken too, I've got those downhearted blues
Once I was crazy 'bout a man, he mistreated me all the time
The next man I get has got to promise me to be mine, all mine

Trouble, trouble, I've had it all my days
Trouble, trouble, I've had it all my days
It seems like trouble going to follow me to my grave

I ain't never loved but three mens in my life
I ain't never loved but three men in my life
My father, my brother, the man that wrecked my life

It may be a week, it may be a month or two
It may be a week, it may be a month or two
But the day you quit me, honey, it's comin' home to you

I got the world in a jug, the stopper's in my hand
I got the world in a jug, the stopper's in my hand
I'm gonna hold it until you meet some of my demands

©
MCA MUSIC PUBLISHING© MILLS MUSIC INC

The purpose of the song is to let the writer express her sorrow and provide herself with some consolation. The tone is melancholy as it reflects on her past relationship ("It's hard to love someone when that someone don't love you," "Trouble going to follow me to my grave"). The songwriter is also thinking about the future and is determined to avoid the same sorrowful relationship ("The next man I get has got to promise me to be mine") and she believes that the man who treated her badly will get what he deserves ("The day you quit me honey, it's comin' home to you").

This song reflects the time of the Harlem Renaissance because this was the time period where classic blues began to be recorded. The song is also a reflection of the fact that African American art was gaining attention, as "Downhearted Blues" is a famous and noted blues song. It is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 songs that shaped rock. The singer, Bessie Smith, is considered the most important classic blues singer and recorded over 160 songs from 1923 to 1933.

Comparing The Two Movements

The two movements, the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movement, are similar in that in both instances the desire for social equality and pride in being an African American were expressed. They also were both times where African Americans made significant gains as far as having their voice heard. The Harlem Renaissance, however, was more of an artistic and literary movement, expressing the feelings of African Americans through their art, whereas the Civil Rights Movement was where African Americans took political and legal action to win equality.

Background: Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement lasted from the 1950s to the 1960s. The Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 are often considered the starting and ending points.

Major elements of the Civil Rights Movement included fighting for integration and voting rights, which was done through boycotts, protests, sit ins, and Supreme Court cases. African American religious leaders became very prominent, such as Malcolm X (Nation of Islam) and Martin Luther King, Jr. (Baptist) and several other Protestant clergymen.

For the writers and artists, the Civil Rights Movement could mean either a struggle for equality along the lines of what King advocated, or a struggle for black nationalism and supremacy along the lines of what Malcolm X advocated.

Background: Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance lasted from about 1918 to the 1930s. Primarily, it was a literary movement. This was the first time African American literature and art attracted significant public attention and was taken seriously by mainstream publishers and critics.

Some elements of the Renaissance were an interest in the roots and heritage of African Americans as well as striving to achieve political and social equality. Another element was its diversity, there being 16 writers and dozens of artists.

For the artists, this time represented the opportunity to give artistic expression to the African American experience. Some African Americans wanted to use this opportunity to fight stereotypes while others wanted to express themselves freely regardless of what others thought.