What themes stood out most to you in the assigned readings and lecture this week? What questions did the lectures and readings raise for you? Please post your responses in the comment section below.
I thought the biggest theme in class this week was the development of a separate Black culture in the period after World War 1. Blacks from all across the world congregated in cities and began to pursue art, poetry, the humanities, and music. This was distinctly different from the black culture of years past, and African Americans began to see themselves as the "New Negro." They became capable of speaking for and expressing themselves. The one question I had was how widespread was this movement in the population? Would a majority of people become involved in cultural activities or was this still just a subset of blacks?
The theme that stood out most to be was the idea of the flapper. In films I've seen and previous history books, flappers are often perceived as sexual women who are breaking the social norms of dress. Really, however, they were a new generation of more independent thinkers who wanted to live their own lives without the social restrictions imposed on them. They wanted college educations and jobs over marriage, not just to go out and party at the speakeasy. There was more context behind the knee-length dresses. It was a move for independence and thinking for yourself.
From this week's lecture, the concept of "Old Negro" and "New Negro" stood out to me. The "Old Negros" were objects of philanthropy and pity, and were thought of as problems. On the other hand, the "New Negros" were people who could speak for themselves and define themselves; they were free to explore different options. Under this context, poetry, paintings, sculptures, songs etc. flourished. The question I have is: Dr.Dickerson briefly talked about Black Primitivism in the lecture, how did it play into the Harlem Renaissance?
The theme that stood out to me this week was discussion of the symbolism of Harlem in the Harlem Renaissance as the overall flowering of black culture in northern and southern US cities, along with international cities. The Harlem Renaissance intellectuals included writers, singers, and politicians, so it had a widespread reach. African Americans became more educated and independent during this time period. The question I have is how long it took the Harlem Renaissance to get going and spreading to other parts of the country and world?
The huge theme discussed this week was obviously the Harlem Renaissance. This referred to not only the artistic, but also the huge social and cultural boom in the Harlem during this time period. Through the Harlem Renaissance came the emergence of the "new negro" who differed from the "old negro," who was someone who was very seldom defined in terms of their cultural or racial aspirations and characteristics but usually defined as "problems". Harlem is a metaphor for all of the venues where African Americans at this time were being transplanted. The emergence of the "new negro" through the renaissance was done in the context of cosmopolitanism on both and American and international scene. How, if at all, did the definition of "new negro" change among various cities and or countries?
The theme that stood out to me most was, what "The New Negro" defined as, race-wielding in Harlem. Blacks from all parts of the world, walks of life, and cultures came together in this one area of Manhattan. At first, there was hate due to differences, but once that subsided, great efforts of self-determination and progress could ensue. With this came distinct and influential African American scholars, artists, writers, who held enormous influence on how blacks were perceived. Now, African Americans were being recognized in all aspects of culture as well as socially. What I am still wondering, is how the South was reacting to all that was happening during the Harlem Renaissance?
A question was asked in Wednesday's class about the influence the Harlem Renaissance (or was it the neighborhood itself?) had on artistic/cultural/literary movements. It seems to me that Harlem stands as a unique form of bohemia, an "underground" art scene with people concerned only with culture, artistic production, and very little to do with materialism. While the materialism in Harlem is certainly up for debate, I think that this connection between Harlem to bohemians/bohemia in NYC is a relevant. As NYC became more cosmopolitan, the influx of foreign peoples and ideas + the growing lower classes formed the bohemia. The Lower East Side, which immediately comes to mind, may not have been geographically "close" to Harlem in Manhattan, seems to have the same role for other whites in the city. Upper class folk would spend their evenings in the bohemia for a glimpse into the underground culture, and according to Dr. Dickerson, is the same occurrence in Harlem.
I think my connection to the Harlem Renaissance and this neighborhood to bohemia, the Lower East Side, is important as we understand how these populations define themselves. Harlem, which was predominantly black, also had Jews, Italians, and Latinos... but most importantly, these groups defined themselves on their own terms. The bohemians did the same, ignoring the other social classes and the materialistic attitudes and focused entirely on their art and culture. The same attitude exists between both worlds. Furthermore, the presence of upper class/middle class peoples returning to these neighborhoods as an attempt to define themselves also defines the blackness/foreigness/bohemian identity in that other, crucial way that Dr. Dickerson pointed out.
The Harlem Renaissance had far reaching effects and not just on black reformists, black identities. It seems to me that the Harlem Renaissance had a legitimate influence on the formation of other identities not in this neighborhood.
I think the most prominent theme from this week was the effect that mass migration and immigration can have in the creation of new culture and changing of the societal status quo. Only during and after World War I did blacks from the south and Caribbean begin to leave for the northeast and midwest because of the ability to acquire jobs in factories and other areas abandoned by white males fighting in the war. This gave southern blacks their first mass chance for economic mobility since the abolition of slavery. With this move came a new amalgamation of intra-African American ideas, creating an entirely new and brilliant culture we see emerge primarily in Harlem. However, this mass movement was not without its drawbacks. When American doughboys returned and awaited their jobs, they were not pleased to see them taken by new southern blacks. As a result, the period saw some of the worst racial violence in American history. From these events, we see just how important this era of African-American migration was in shaping modern American demographics.
I find the rise of the new woman in this time period to be very interesting. The "Flapper" not only symbolized women becoming more socially active and exploratory, but also seeking more economic standing. These women may have been over sexualized in the culture of the time, but they also had the radical ideas (at least of the time) of being independent. They sought to gain education, especially on a collegiate level, and find jobs on their own. This trend would obviously continue over the 21st century and become normalized. My question for the week would be what caused this cultural and economic event to occur? Was it a reaction to the suffrage movement and the previous successes of women?
I found the Harlem Renaissance and its affect on American society very interesting. Whites would go to Harlem on the weekends to experience things that were traditionally prohibited by society. It was a place where whites could go to explore and critique their own culture. Also, the rise of mass consumerism and the sterile, artificial lives of the white middle class were interesting. Black culture became an outlet were many Americans could experience new forms of freedom. My question for the week would be: How would many Americans overcome the constraints of what society expected and become individuals?
I thought that it was interesting how the culture and prevailing mindsets that were present during this era in American history made its way into Babbit's general atmosphere. During this time period, materialism was very prevalent. It was seen as a sort of status symbol to be in possession of the finest things and to enjoy the finer things in life. In Babbit, this concept of materialism is present throughout the novel, with the characters oftentimes commenting or questioning the value of a particular piece or object. This concept led to whites critiquing their own culture, as blacks began to form their own cultural movement with the Harlem Renaissance, and began to revolutionize certain aspects of culture that for a long time had remained unchanged. Another cultural element of this time period that is in Babbit is the Flapper. Flappers were a movement of independent women that became prominent in the early 20th century. This movement was brought on by the fight that women gave to achieve the same rights as men, and is characterized by women who wore more "risque" clothing, partied, and wished to work or attend college. My question for the lecture this week is how did whites react to the Harlem Renaissance? We learned that blacks wished to form an image where they weren't seen with contempt or pity by whites, but this effort work? Did it make racial tensions better, worse, or did they remain the same?
This week in discussion, I thought the Harlem Renaissance and the exploration of blacks in a new light was interesting. The fact that blacks could now explore all parts of themselves and define for themselves their race and identity was revolutionary. My question is how was the Renaissance taken by whites in the United States and around the world? Was this widely accepted or rejected by other communities?
I thought the biggest theme in class this week was the development of a separate Black culture in the period after World War 1. Blacks from all across the world congregated in cities and began to pursue art, poetry, the humanities, and music. This was distinctly different from the black culture of years past, and African Americans began to see themselves as the "New Negro." They became capable of speaking for and expressing themselves. The one question I had was how widespread was this movement in the population? Would a majority of people become involved in cultural activities or was this still just a subset of blacks?
ReplyDeleteThe theme that stood out most to be was the idea of the flapper. In films I've seen and previous history books, flappers are often perceived as sexual women who are breaking the social norms of dress. Really, however, they were a new generation of more independent thinkers who wanted to live their own lives without the social restrictions imposed on them. They wanted college educations and jobs over marriage, not just to go out and party at the speakeasy. There was more context behind the knee-length dresses. It was a move for independence and thinking for yourself.
ReplyDeleteFrom this week's lecture, the concept of "Old Negro" and "New Negro" stood out to me. The "Old Negros" were objects of philanthropy and pity, and were thought of as problems. On the other hand, the "New Negros" were people who could speak for themselves and define themselves; they were free to explore different options. Under this context, poetry, paintings, sculptures, songs etc. flourished. The question I have is: Dr.Dickerson briefly talked about Black Primitivism in the lecture, how did it play into the Harlem Renaissance?
ReplyDeleteThe theme that stood out to me this week was discussion of the symbolism of Harlem in the Harlem Renaissance as the overall flowering of black culture in northern and southern US cities, along with international cities. The Harlem Renaissance intellectuals included writers, singers, and politicians, so it had a widespread reach. African Americans became more educated and independent during this time period. The question I have is how long it took the Harlem Renaissance to get going and spreading to other parts of the country and world?
ReplyDeleteThe huge theme discussed this week was obviously the Harlem Renaissance. This referred to not only the artistic, but also the huge social and cultural boom in the Harlem during this time period. Through the Harlem Renaissance came the emergence of the "new negro" who differed from the "old negro," who was someone who was very seldom defined in terms of their cultural or racial aspirations and characteristics but usually defined as "problems". Harlem is a metaphor for all of the venues where African Americans at this time were being transplanted. The emergence of the "new negro" through the renaissance was done in the context of cosmopolitanism on both and American and international scene. How, if at all, did the definition of "new negro" change among various cities and or countries?
ReplyDeleteThe theme that stood out to me most was, what "The New Negro" defined as, race-wielding in Harlem. Blacks from all parts of the world, walks of life, and cultures came together in this one area of Manhattan. At first, there was hate due to differences, but once that subsided, great efforts of self-determination and progress could ensue. With this came distinct and influential African American scholars, artists, writers, who held enormous influence on how blacks were perceived. Now, African Americans were being recognized in all aspects of culture as well as socially. What I am still wondering, is how the South was reacting to all that was happening during the Harlem Renaissance?
ReplyDeleteA question was asked in Wednesday's class about the influence the Harlem Renaissance (or was it the neighborhood itself?) had on artistic/cultural/literary movements. It seems to me that Harlem stands as a unique form of bohemia, an "underground" art scene with people concerned only with culture, artistic production, and very little to do with materialism. While the materialism in Harlem is certainly up for debate, I think that this connection between Harlem to bohemians/bohemia in NYC is a relevant. As NYC became more cosmopolitan, the influx of foreign peoples and ideas + the growing lower classes formed the bohemia. The Lower East Side, which immediately comes to mind, may not have been geographically "close" to Harlem in Manhattan, seems to have the same role for other whites in the city. Upper class folk would spend their evenings in the bohemia for a glimpse into the underground culture, and according to Dr. Dickerson, is the same occurrence in Harlem.
ReplyDeleteI think my connection to the Harlem Renaissance and this neighborhood to bohemia, the Lower East Side, is important as we understand how these populations define themselves. Harlem, which was predominantly black, also had Jews, Italians, and Latinos... but most importantly, these groups defined themselves on their own terms. The bohemians did the same, ignoring the other social classes and the materialistic attitudes and focused entirely on their art and culture. The same attitude exists between both worlds. Furthermore, the presence of upper class/middle class peoples returning to these neighborhoods as an attempt to define themselves also defines the blackness/foreigness/bohemian identity in that other, crucial way that Dr. Dickerson pointed out.
The Harlem Renaissance had far reaching effects and not just on black reformists, black identities. It seems to me that the Harlem Renaissance had a legitimate influence on the formation of other identities not in this neighborhood.
I think the most prominent theme from this week was the effect that mass migration and immigration can have in the creation of new culture and changing of the societal status quo. Only during and after World War I did blacks from the south and Caribbean begin to leave for the northeast and midwest because of the ability to acquire jobs in factories and other areas abandoned by white males fighting in the war. This gave southern blacks their first mass chance for economic mobility since the abolition of slavery. With this move came a new amalgamation of intra-African American ideas, creating an entirely new and brilliant culture we see emerge primarily in Harlem. However, this mass movement was not without its drawbacks. When American doughboys returned and awaited their jobs, they were not pleased to see them taken by new southern blacks. As a result, the period saw some of the worst racial violence in American history. From these events, we see just how important this era of African-American migration was in shaping modern American demographics.
ReplyDeleteI find the rise of the new woman in this time period to be very interesting. The "Flapper" not only symbolized women becoming more socially active and exploratory, but also seeking more economic standing. These women may have been over sexualized in the culture of the time, but they also had the radical ideas (at least of the time) of being independent. They sought to gain education, especially on a collegiate level, and find jobs on their own. This trend would obviously continue over the 21st century and become normalized. My question for the week would be what caused this cultural and economic event to occur? Was it a reaction to the suffrage movement and the previous successes of women?
ReplyDeleteI found the Harlem Renaissance and its affect on American society very interesting. Whites would go to Harlem on the weekends to experience things that were traditionally prohibited by society. It was a place where whites could go to explore and critique their own culture. Also, the rise of mass consumerism and the sterile, artificial lives of the white middle class were interesting. Black culture became an outlet were many Americans could experience new forms of freedom. My question for the week would be: How would many Americans overcome the constraints of what society expected and become individuals?
ReplyDeleteI thought that it was interesting how the culture and prevailing mindsets that were present during this era in American history made its way into Babbit's general atmosphere. During this time period, materialism was very prevalent. It was seen as a sort of status symbol to be in possession of the finest things and to enjoy the finer things in life. In Babbit, this concept of materialism is present throughout the novel, with the characters oftentimes commenting or questioning the value of a particular piece or object. This concept led to whites critiquing their own culture, as blacks began to form their own cultural movement with the Harlem Renaissance, and began to revolutionize certain aspects of culture that for a long time had remained unchanged. Another cultural element of this time period that is in Babbit is the Flapper. Flappers were a movement of independent women that became prominent in the early 20th century. This movement was brought on by the fight that women gave to achieve the same rights as men, and is characterized by women who wore more "risque" clothing, partied, and wished to work or attend college. My question for the lecture this week is how did whites react to the Harlem Renaissance? We learned that blacks wished to form an image where they weren't seen with contempt or pity by whites, but this effort work? Did it make racial tensions better, worse, or did they remain the same?
ReplyDeleteThis week in discussion, I thought the Harlem Renaissance and the exploration of blacks in a new light was interesting. The fact that blacks could now explore all parts of themselves and define for themselves their race and identity was revolutionary. My question is how was the Renaissance taken by whites in the United States and around the world? Was this widely accepted or rejected by other communities?
ReplyDelete