1918–1937

The Harlem Renaissance

An extraordinary flowering of Black art, literature, music, and intellectual thought centered in Harlem, New York, that redefined Black identity and American culture.

View Teaching Bundle →
Historical image from the The Harlem Renaissance era
Literary explosion
Jazz and music
Visual arts
Black pride and identity
Intellectual thought

What Was the The Harlem Renaissance?

An extraordinary flowering of Black art, literature, music, and intellectual thought centered in Harlem, New York, that redefined Black identity and American culture.

In the 1920s, something amazing happened in a neighborhood called Harlem in New York City. Black writers, artists, musicians, and thinkers came together and created one of the greatest explosions of creativity in American history. This period is called the Harlem Renaissance. It lasted roughly from 1918 to 1937, and it changed everything — what Americans read, listened to, and believed about Black culture. During the Great Migration, hundreds of thousands of Black families moved from the South to Northern cities. Harlem became the center of Black life in America, packed with talented people who were ready to show the world what they could do. Poets like Langston Hughes wrote about Black joy and struggle. Musicians like Duke Ellington played jazz that made people dance. Artists like Aaron Douglas painted murals celebrating African heritage. Together, they created a 'New Negro' identity — proud, creative, and unafraid. The Harlem Renaissance proved that Black Americans could produce world-class art and literature, and it laid the groundwork for the fight for equal rights that would come next.

Key Events

1919
A Poem of Defiance
Claude McKay publishes 'If We Must Die,' a poem that becomes an anthem of Black resistance during the violent Red Summer.
1921
A Young Poet's Debut
Langston Hughes publishes 'The Negro Speaks of Rivers' in The Crisis magazine — a poem he wrote while still a teenager.
1925
The New Negro
Alain Locke publishes 'The New Negro,' an anthology that gives the Harlem Renaissance its defining ideas.
1926
The Savoy Opens Its Doors
The Savoy Ballroom opens in Harlem — one of the first racially integrated dance halls in America and the home of the Lindy Hop.
1927
Ellington at the Cotton Club
Duke Ellington's orchestra begins playing at the Cotton Club, broadcasting jazz to millions across America via radio.
1928
A Black Bestseller
Claude McKay's 'Home to Harlem' becomes the first bestselling novel by a Black author.
1934
History in Murals
Aaron Douglas completes 'Aspects of Negro Life,' four murals at the 135th Street library tracing Black history from Africa to modern times.
1937
A Masterpiece Is Born
Zora Neale Hurston publishes 'Their Eyes Were Watching God,' now considered one of the greatest American novels.

Did You Know?

💡

Rent Parties Fueled the Music

When Harlem families couldn't afford rent, they threw parties and charged a small admission fee. These 'rent parties' featured live jazz and blues, and they became some of the most creative musical events of the era.

💡

A Teenager Wrote a Masterpiece

Langston Hughes was still a teenager when he wrote 'The Negro Speaks of Rivers' while crossing the Mississippi River on a train. It became one of the most famous poems in American history.

💡

The Cotton Club Had a Shameful Rule

The famous Cotton Club in Harlem featured Black musicians and performers — but for most of its existence, only white people were allowed in the audience. The club's complicated history shows the tensions of the era.

💡

A Book Was Lost and Found

Zora Neale Hurston's novel 'Their Eyes Were Watching God' got mixed reviews when it came out in 1937 and was nearly forgotten. In 1975, writer Alice Walker helped rediscover Hurston's work, and today the book is considered a masterpiece.

💡

The Movement Spread Far Beyond Harlem

While Harlem was the heart of the movement, Black artists and writers were also thriving in Washington D.C., Chicago, and even Paris, where performer Josephine Baker became one of the biggest stars in Europe.

Historical Images

Primary sources from the The Harlem Renaissance era

[Portrait of Josephine Baker, Paris]

[Portrait of Josephine Baker, Paris]

Source: Library of Congress No known restrictions (LOC)

[Portrait of James Weldon Johnson]

[Portrait of James Weldon Johnson]

Source: Library of Congress No known restrictions (LOC)

[Portrait of Josephine Baker]

[Portrait of Josephine Baker]

Source: Library of Congress No known restrictions (LOC)

[Portrait of Josephine Baker]

[Portrait of Josephine Baker]

Source: Library of Congress No known restrictions (LOC)

[Portrait of Clayton Corbin]

[Portrait of Clayton Corbin]

Source: Library of Congress No known restrictions (LOC)

Key Figures of The Harlem Renaissance

The people who shaped this era.

Portrait of W.E.B. Du Bois

W.E.B. Du Bois

1868–1963

Brilliant scholar and co-founder of the NAACP who fought for full civil rights and equality for Black Americans through education and activism.

View Bundle →

Want to teach this era? We've done the work for you.

The Harlem Renaissance Complete Teaching Bundle

📖

Lesson Plan

Comprehensive lesson plan covering the full era with learning objectives, activities, and assessment.

Grades 4–8 · 1918–1937

📝

Student Workbook

Interactive workbook with reading passages, timeline activities, primary source analysis, and a quiz.

Grades 4–8 · 12 Sections

🃏

Flashcard Set

40 cards covering vocabulary, key facts, events, important people, and review challenges.

Grades 4–8 · 40 Cards

$14.99
Coming Soon

Instant digital download · Printable PDF · Grades 4–8 · Verified accurate

Here's a peek inside...

📖 Lesson Plan

The Harlem Renaissance | Lesson Plan
Black History Guides
SAMPLE
Learning Objectives
1
Identify at least 5 key events of The Harlem Renaissance and explain their significance.
2
Define and use vocabulary related to the era in context.
3
Analyze a primary source and draw meaning from its historical context.
Essential Question
"What forces shaped this era, and how do they still affect us today?"
Key Themes
Literary explosion Jazz and music Visual arts Black pride and identity Intellectual thought
Black History Guides
Page 1 of 8

📝 Student Workbook

The Harlem Renaissance | Student Workbook
Black History Guides
SAMPLE
Reading Comprehension

Read the passage about The Harlem Renaissance and answer the questions below.

Questions
1
What were the key events that defined this era?
2
Why is this era important in American history?
Timeline Activity
Put these events in chronological order
________________________________
________________________________
Black History Guides
Page 3 of 18

🃏 Flashcard Set - Click to Flip!

Key Event · Card 5 of 40
1919: A Poem of Defiance
Answer
Claude McKay publishes 'If We Must Die,' a poem that becomes an anthem of Black resistance during the violent Red Summer.

Click the card to flip it

Get a Free Sample

Try before you buy! Enter your email to receive a free sampler with flashcards, activities, and a lesson plan excerpt. No spam, just history.

Instant delivery. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Go Deeper: Individual Figure Bundles

Each figure from this era has their own complete teaching bundle.

📚

W.E.B. Du Bois

Complete teaching bundle: lesson plan, workbook, and 40-card flashcard set.

View Bundle →

Frequently Asked Questions

Each bundle lists a suggested grade range, but those are just starting points, not limits. Every child learns at their own pace, and we believe no kid should be held back from knowledge they're ready for. Parents and teachers know their students best, so we encourage you to teach at whatever level fits your learner.
The bundle includes three digital PDF products: a comprehensive lesson plan with learning objectives, activities, and assessments focused on the era as a whole; a 12-section student workbook with reading passages, timeline activities, primary source analysis, and a quiz; and a 40-card flashcard set covering vocabulary, key facts, events, important people, and review challenges.
Yes. All content is researched and verified through our 4-layer editorial process. Sources include the Library of Congress, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and Encyclopaedia Britannica. Every factual claim is independently verified before publishing.
Absolutely. The workbook is self-contained and works equally well for classroom instruction and homeschooling. It includes a reading passage, guided activities, and a completion certificate. Everything you need for an independent learning session.