Development of Harlem as a Cultural and Artistic Center for African Essay

Development of Harlem as a Cultural and Artistic Center for African Americans - Essay Example Harlem Renaissance Harlem Renaissance is a period of unprecedented artistic production by African-Americans (Beaulieu 395). The Harlem Renaissance is a representation of the Negro movement in the 1920s, which gave rise to revolutionized ways in which African-American artists would look at themselves and their work of art. It also represents the ways in which they would express themselves, musically, verbally or artistically. Beaulieu (396) notes that Harlem became a geographical center for the African-Americans who had migrated to the Northern Part of the United States in search of better opportunities than those they had on the south. He also notes that in Harlem the African Americans were able to live comfortably and found better working conditions. The African Americans were also able to obtain good education in schools that were very much superior to the ones in the southern part of the country. As a way of African Americans maintaining their identity, Harlem was nicknamed Ã¢â‚¬Ë œBlack Manhattan’ by one of its founders James Weldon Johnson. It has also been nicknamed by Claude McKay as ‘Negro Metropolis’ (Beaulieu 396). Significant Writers and Artists of Harlem Renaissance Anderson and Stewart (302) assert that there were a number of African American writers and poets of the Harlem Renaissance. ... oups, artistes, dancers, musicians, and performance of Harlem Renaissance include Josephine Baker, Paul Robenson, Florence Mills, Noble Sissle, and Eubie Blake. Locations and Roles of Jazz Venues Such As the Savoy Ballroom and the Cotton Club Savoy Ballroom The Savoy Ballroom in Harlem is located at 596 along Lenox Avenue, in between West140th and 141st Street in New York City USA. It was opened on Match 12th 1926 by Moses Galewski, Charles Galewski and Charles Buchanan a Harlem real estate businessperson who became the Savoy Ballroom business manger. It is situated within the second floor of the building and measures 200 feet long by 50 feet wide (Aberjhani and West 221). The venue is used as a battle of jazz bands and dance. For example in the 1927, the Savoy Ballroom staged a â€Å"Battle of Jazz† featuring King Oliver’s Jazz Dixie syncopates under leadership of Williams, Harlem stompers by Chick Webb among others. The venue has since then remained known for its famo us Jazz dance and performances across the United States of America (Aberjhani and West 221). Cotton Club Cotton club is located in Harlem, along 644 Lenox Avenue, West 142nd and 200 west, 48th street. It is also known as Club Deluxe. It was opened in 1920 as a jazz club (Aberjhani and West 221). The cotton club operates as a jazz performance venue in Harlem. For example, during the club inception in the 1920s it saw prominent jazz musicians, dancers and singers like Louis Armstrong and Ethel Waters, Bill Robinson, Ivie Anderson and Nicholas Brothers perform at the club. It has remained famous for Jazz since then (Aberjhani and West 221). Political and Religious Leaders and Movements that Were Centered In Harlem Beaulieu (396) notes that Harlem Renaissance had two influential political leaders. They