Digital History
Digital History:the Great Migration
The Great Migration for African Americans began during World War I as blacks left the segregated south to find jobs in the north. Read about how segregation followed them into their northern neighborhoods. See also how the Harlem...
African American Literature Book Club
African American Literature Book Club: Alain Locke
A biography of African-American writer Alain Locke, chief interpreter of the Harlem Renaissance, the video [5:30] "Ossie Davis: Dr. Alain Leroy Locke's Influence," and links to three of his books.
Poetry Foundation
Poetry Foundation: Harlem
Poem entitled "Harlem" is shared on this site. This poem was originally found in Langston Hughes' Collected Poems. Click on 'Related Content' for a biography of Langston Hughes.
PBS
Literature & Life: Renaissance
Some of the African-American writers and poets who were prominent in the early part of the twentieth century are featured on this page. They were important voices during what became known as the 'black Renaissance'. Here, you can listen...
Columbia University
Columbia University: Harlem Hospital Wpa Murals
Painted during the Great Depression and funded under the Works Progress Administration/Federal Art Project these murals carry with them a history worth noting.
Yale University
Harlem Renaissance Births a Black Culture: 369th Infantry Regiment
Very brief description of the 369th Infantry Regiment, the African American regiment also known as the "Harlem Hell Fighters."
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Rhythms in Poetry: Claude Mc Kay
This is a succinct biography of Claude McKay, infamous Harlem Renaissance poet who expressed the need for the African American community in America to speak out against racism. See "Claude McKay Activities" for related materials.
African American Literature Book Club
African American Literature Book Club: Dorothy West
This biography of Harlem Renaissance writer Dorothy West includes a video [2:42] of West in New York and links to book reviews for all of West's works.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 2: Langston Hughes and the Blues
Explore relationship between music and poetry in this African-American history lesson on Langston Hughes, the Harlem Renaissance, and other artists such as Bessie Smith, John Hammond, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones.
Library of Congress
Loc: Primary Source Investigation
Choose from a list of photos from the Civil War, Reform, Harlem Renaissance, and Campaign to study and record observations.
Library of Congress
Loc: African American Odyssey: World War I and Postwar Society
Collection of primary source material from the Library of Congress chronicles the plight of African Americans during WWI and the Harlem Renaissance that followed.
University at Buffalo
University at Buffalo: The Jean Toomer Pages
The Jean Toomer Pages surveys the life and work of this Harlem Renaissance poet and novelist.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: On "From the Dark Tower"
The Harlem Renaissance poem "From the Dark Tower" by Countee Cullen along with an analysis of the poem.
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.
New Georgia Encyclopedia: Georgia Douglas Johnson
Learn about Georgia Douglas Johnson, an important Harlem Renaissance poet and playwright. List of suggested readings included.
Duke University
Shuffle Along Orchestra
This section focuses on the people created the hit musical, "Shuffle Along," which helped to spur the Harlem Renaissance. Other information on the site about the importance of other black theater during the period.
Other
Jazz Age Culture: Part 1
Features numerous links to external sites that provide information pertaining to the flapper era, jazz and the Harlem Renaissance, prohibition, racial violence, and crime.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Langston Hughes
A lesson plan based around the use of metaphor in Langston Hughes's "Dreams" poem. A good reference for teachers looking for lesson ideas on the Harlem Renaissance.
Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery: American Women: Jessie Fauset
Read a brief biography of Jessie Fauset, who was a leader in the Harlem Renaissance. See a portrait of her painted by Laura Wheeler Waring.
Other
E Notes: Short Story Criticism: Jean Toomer
A review of Jean Toomer, an influential writer during the Harlem Renaissance. Presents a biography and a look at his contributions to short fiction.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: American Culture in the 1920s
The First World War had a crippling effect on any notions of positivity in the artists, writers, and intellectuals of that time and they became known as the Lost Generation. This page discusses this group of people, the emergence of jazz...
Other
E Notes: Twentieth Century Literary Criticism: Dorothy West Criticism
A complete biography of Harlem Renaissance writer Dorothy West. Highlights her major works and critical reception.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: William H. Johnson
The Luce Foundation Center for American Art at the Smithsonian American Art Museum presents this short biography and photographic portrait of William H. Johnson, the influential African-American painter participant in the Harlem...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: Jacob Lawrence
The Luce Foundation Center for American Art presents the African-American painter and Harlem Renaissance figure, Jacob Lawrence, with a short biography, image, and description of his work on view in the collection and a video interview...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: Beauford Delaney
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, Beauford Delaney is described here along with information on his contributions to art through his association with the Harlem Renaissance and his portraits of African Americans.