William Henry Johnson

Johson was an American painter, best known for the spare, simplified style he used in his paintings of African American subjects. Johnson was born in Florence, South Carolina, and was introduced to art through cartoons in his hometown newspaper. The oldest of five children, Johnson received encouragement from an artistically inclined teacher at the high school he attended. Johnson’s best known work, Going to Church , illustrates the subjects and style he chose for what he termed “painting my people.”

Johnsons famed work embodied the way of rural southern African Americans who moved North looking for opportunities for better work such as this painting. He represents the era well by painting the issues and problems African Americans suffered during the time.

Jessie Redmon Fauset

Fauset graduated from Cornell University in 1905. In 1919, she received her master's degree in French from Cornell. From 1919 to 1926, she was the editor of The Crisis, a NAACP magazince. Besides serving as editor, she wrote and published poetry on the side. In her novels, which include, There is Confusion, Plum Bun: A Novel Without a Moral, The Chinaberry Tree: A Novel of American Life, and Comedy American Style, she explored race.

Sterling A. Brown

Sterling A. Brown attended Williams College in 1918. While at Williams, he received the Graves Prize for his essay, "The Comic Spirit in Shakespeare and Moliére." In 1923, he received his master's degree in English from Harvard University. His first book, Southern Road was published in 1932. Throughout many of his writings, he expressed concern about race and was influenced by the blues, jazz, work songs, and spirituals significant to the Harlem Rennaissance. With the arrival of the depression, he was unable to get other work published. He taught at Howard University until he retired in 1969. His second book, The Last Ride of Wild Bill was published in 1975.

Brown published various poems throughout the Harlem Renaissance and was a very successful poet. His style was that of understanding and his poems reflected the Harlem Renaissance well.

Musician: Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana, the birthplace of jazz. He is considered the most important improviser in jazz, and he taught the world to “swing”. Louis Armstrong, known as "Satchmo", had a sense of humor, natural and unassuming manner, and positive outlook that made everyone around him feel good. With his infectious, wide grin and instantly recognizable raspy voice, he won the hearts of people everywhere. He had an exciting and innovative style of playing that musicians imitate to this day. Throughout his career, Armstrong spread the language of jazz around the world, serving as an international ambassador of swing. His impact on the music of the 20th century still influences music of 21st century.

History

Harlem Renaissance:
During the 1920s and into the 1930s, African American literature exploded during the Harlem Renaissance. Known greatly for the examples of great literature by black authors, the Harlem Renaissance, also known as the New Negro Movement, was a result of several factors. Before the Renaissance, thousands of blacks migrated from the South to the Northern industrial cities as more employment opportunities became available during World War I. In addition, the black middle class was increasing and more educational opportunities were available to blacks.