Background to Harlem, 1900-1940

"..Harlem-South Harlem-the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida-looking for the promised land-dressed in rhythmic words, painted in bright pictures, dancing to jazz-ending up in the subway at morning rush time-headed downtown. West Indian Harlem-warm rambunctious sassy remembering Marcus Garvey. Haitian Harlem, Cuban Harlem, little pockets of tropical dreams in alien tongues. Magnet Harlem, pulling an Arturo Schomburg from Puerto Rico, pulling an Arna Bontemps all the way from Carolina, a Nora Holt from way out West, an E. Simms Campbell from St. Louis, likewise a Josephine Baker, a Charles S. Johnson from Virginia, an A. Philip Randolph from Florida, a Roy Wilkins from Minnesota, an Alta Douglas from Kansas. Melting pot Harlem- Harlem of honey and chocolate and caramel and rum and vinegar and lemon and lime and gall."
Langston Hughes
Harlem: A Community in Transition

Harlem is the place where many of the 20th century African-American pioneers came together. These men and women were responsible for several movements of major historical, political, social and cultural significance. James Weldon Johnson called it "Black Manhattan",Claude McKay dubbed it "Negro Metropolis". It was the destination, the freedom so many African-Americans sought in the early 1900s.

At the turn of the century, Harlem was considered to be a suburb of New York City. Elegant townhouses had been built there to house the middle and upper class people of European descent who moved north of Central Park. At that time, most African-Americans were migrating from the southern part of the United States and the Caribbean to northern urban centers, seeking the promise of better jobs, education and social equality.

In the early 1900s, the operations of Philip Payton, an African-American realtor, helped to transform Harlem from a white to a black neighborhood. The construction of the Lenox Avenue subway made it even more accessible. Harlem then came to symbolize the central experience in African-American urban life, providing many platforms for the expression of ideas reflecting a new found racial pride, determination and creativity.

Artists, business people, intellectuals and religious leaders alike were attracted by the inspiration and vitality Harlem offered. The 135th Street Branch of the New York Public Library became a major meeting place for much of this activity. Churches and social clubs also flourished in this climate.

Most famous for the New Negro Movement of the 1920s, commonly called the "Harlem Renaissance", it was home to some of America's most influential writers and political leaders. W.E.B. DuBois, Marcus Garvey, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston and others made important contributions to African-American culture and the struggle for civil rights. This community was on the vanguard of revolutionizing the world's perception of the African-American experience.

The performing arts flourished in Harlem. Duke Ellington, Ethel Waters, Florence Mills, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Harlem's unofficial mayor, all laid the groundwork for several generations of African-American performers. From the mid to late 1920s these artists took Europe by storm, extending the influence of Harlem internationally. Visual artists such as Aaron Douglas, Archibald Motley and Augusta Savage also made a significant contribution to the arts movement.

During the Great Depression, Harlem suffered, as did the rest of America. But, the spirit of the people and the impact they had on American culture did not diminish. In the latter part of the 20th century, Harlem has not escaped the urban decay common to many American cities. However, it remains an important community with a rich history. Harlem 1900-1940: An African-American Community , is an exhibition portfolio consisting of over 30 images that incorporate a sampling of the events and personalities comprising that unique history. Theatre, business, art, music, sports, religion, literature and education are some of the subjects touched upon in this packet. Its purpose is to encourage further exploration of the topic and to stimulate interest in the study of a fascinating social history.