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“I came out of the subway, weak, moving through the heat as though I carried a heavy stone, the weight of a moun-din on my shoulders. My new shoes hurt my feet. Now, mov in through the crowds along 125th Street, I was painfully ware of other men dressed like the boys, and of girls in dark exotic-colored stockings, their costumes surreal variations of downtown styles. They'd been there all along, but somehow lid missed them” (Ellison 443)
Invisible Man, Chapter 20

This passage from Invisible Man reflects the protagonists view of Harlem and even implies how he was blind, after referring to himself being invisible throughout the entirety of the novel.

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The Harlem Renaissance's cultural explosion, in photographs

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Take a look at this video featuring photos from the Harlem Renaissance.

#SoI’llWatchYourLifeInPictures

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At the turn of the last century, African Americans from across the country flooded New York City's Harlem neighborhood, leading to a cultural explosion of books, poetry, music and art that is now collectively known as the Harlem Renaissance.

As special correspondent Jared Bowen from WGBH in Boston reports, a photography exhibit now traces the evolution of one of the nation's most recognized neighborhoods as it continues to evolve today.

It's part of our series on arts and culture, Canvas.

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The Harlem Renaissance's cultural explosion, in photographs

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At the turn of the last century, African Americans from across the country flooded New York City's Harlem, leading to an explosion of books, poetry and music that is now collectively known as the Harlem Renaissance. A photography exhibit currently on display traces the history of one of the nation's most recognized neighborhoods as it continues to evolve.

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“‘New York!’ he said. ‘That’s not a place, it’s a dream’” (Ellison 152).
Invisible Man, Chapter 7

This quote from Invisible Man is reflective of what many considered New York to be, the American dream.

Take a look through the attached video of various clips of New York!

#Lifesadream

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“The ABB advocated armed defense against racist assaults and the creation of an independent black socialist commonwealth. It sought to unite black radicals around the issues of racism, colonialism, black nationalism, and anti-capitalism and, through its merger of class and race consciousness, provided the primary gateway for black radicals’ entrance into the communist movement in the early to mid 1920s” (Salter).

(Salter, Blackpast.org)

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Map of Harlem circa 1930 U.S. Census, Credit: SHEC: Resources for Teachers

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In 1930, 4.7% of the population of New York (across all 5 boroughs) was recognized as African American

Manhattan: 12% African American

Harlem: 55% African American

Harlem becomes known as the “black neighborhood”

(SHEC: Resources for Teachers, Map of Harlem)

#NotDora’sMap

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Archibald Motley, Cocktails, 1926, oil on canvas 

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Many paintings included lively scenes and reflected the jazz and speakeasy culture.

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Each section and post is color coordinated with the topic it includes:
Blue- Harlem Renaissance
Red- Politcal Life
Green- Demographic Info
Purple- Daily Life

#OrganizedChaos

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African American Police Officer in New York, Credit: Getty Images

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“I had never seen so many black people against a background of brick buildings, neon signs, plate glass and roaring traffic …  Then at the street intersection I had the shock of seeing a black policeman directing traffic- and there were white drivers in the traffic who obeyed his signals as though it was the most natural thing in the world. Sure I had heard of it, but this was real. My courage returned. This really was Harlem, and now all the stories which I had heard of the city-within-a-city leaped alive in my mind” (Ellison 158).

Invisible Man, Chapter 7

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If you had to choose, what type of influence would
you have in the Harlem Renaissance 

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Chinese men gathered while getting a shoe polish, Credit: Getty Images

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Considerable food industry - Chinese farmers grew their traditional vegetables (long beans, mustard greens, and bitter melons) and transported daily to Chinatown

1930: At least Chinese population of 4,000 in Chinatown

Architecture: primarily tenement buildings, sometimes modified by immigrants that reflected the Chinese culture

Mabel Ping-Hua Lee - prominent political and social figure. advocate for women’s education, equality, and independence.

(“Chinatown and Little Italy Historic District New York, New York” U.S. National Park Service)

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Listen to famous Blues artist, Billie Holiday, who’s music represents the world of Blues in Harlem.

#ICONIC #BABE

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“Then somehow I came out of it, ascending hastily from this underworld of sound to hear Louis Armstrong innocently asking,

What did I do
To be so black

And blue?

At first I was afraid; this familiar music had demanded action, the kind of which I was incapable, and yet had I lingered there beneath the surface I might have attempted to act.

Nevertheless, I know now that few realy listen to this music” (Ellison 12)
Invisible Man, Prologue

Ellison reflects on the role of music and blues through the Harlem Renaissance calling people to act out in hopes of betterment, although many never followed the call.

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Cotton Club in Harlem, Credit: Getty Images

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“Sunday night in the Cotton Club was the night. All the big New York stars in town, no matter where they were playing, showed up at the Cotton Club to take bows” (Boyd 76).

(The Harlem Reader From Nights At the Cotton Club)

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If the video does not play through Padlet, click the box and arrow bottom and it should send you to the online source of the video.

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Political Portrait of women’s activist Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, Credit: National Parks Service 

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#GirlBoss

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Marcus Garvey, Credit: The Kennedy Center

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Charismatic and inspiring Speaker, founder of the Negro World Newspaper

Founder of Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)

Founder of many Black-owned businesses

(“Marcus Garvey.” The Kennedy Center)

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Goal: “promote self-reliance among African Americans and solidarity among Black people worldwide”

Headquarters: Liberty Hall, Harlem, New York

Over 700 branches in operation by the early 1920’s.

“On August 3, some 25,000 people marched from Harlem to Madison Square Garden for a rally led by Garvey”

(“Marcus Garvey”, The Kennedy Center)

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“Dry agents are gleefully loading seized liquor at the Mona Lisa club at 36 West 56th Street,” Credit: Getty Images

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1919: 18th amendment is ratified, Prohibition is in effect.

New York, “with its famed nightlife and saloon culture” was at the forefront of the prohibition argument.

Many “foreign-born and working-class New Yorkers argued that it infringed on civil liberties and was un-American.”

“While advocates of Prohibition pointed to improving the health and moral standing of the entire populace“

1933: 21st amendment, repeals the 18th amendment.

(“Protesting Prohibition”, Museum of the City of New York)

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“Some Prohibition-Era speakeasies required more than a password – they issued membership cards used to identify the bearer as a true, and maybe dues-paying member,” Credit: Prohibition - An Interactive History

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“As bootlegging enriched criminals throughout America, New York became America’s center for organized crime, with bosses such as Salvatore Maranzano, Charles “Lucky” Luciano, Meyer Lansky and Frank Costello. At the height of Prohibition in the late 1920s, there were 32,000 speakeasies in New York alone.”

(“The Speakeasies of the 1920s.” Prohibition - An Interactive History)

#NotYourSchoolID

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Speakeasies - Prohibition: An Interactive History

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Have knowledge about #speakeasies?? Try your hand at speakeasy triva! Click the link, Comment your score!

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True, it prohibited the consumption, manufacture, sale and distribution of alcohol.

False, it only prohibited the manufacture, sale and distribution of alcohol.

Service was more efficient and food arrived at the tables faster and hotter.

Women were uncomfortable sitting at a bar.

Speakeasies were able to serve more customers.

Table service began when floor shows were added to speakeasies.

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Speakeasies - Prohibition: An Interactive History

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Where did the name "speakeasy" come from? Speakeasies received their name as patrons were often told to "speak easy" about these secret bars in public.. Speakeasies received their name from police officers who had trouble locating the bars due to the fact that people tended to speak quietly while inside the bars.

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#vote and share your opinion

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Would you live in New York City in the early 1900’s?

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"'If It's Optic White, It's the Right White,’ I repeated and suddenly had to repress a laugh as a childhood jingle rang through my mind:

‘If you're white, you're right,' I said” (Ellison 218)

Invisible Man, Chapter 10

Ellison shows the conflict of racism or racial superiority by corporations even in the North, as the protagonist finds a job at “Liberty Paints” in Harlem.

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“You must realize immediately that much of our work is opposed. Our discipline demands therefore that we talk to no one and that we avoid situations in which information might be given away unwittingly. So you must put aside your past.” (Ellison 309)

Invisible Man, Chapter 14

Ellison sheds light on the opposition of the brotherhood displayed and how much discipline it is required for the protagonist to have to make the movement a success.

#brotherhoodstrong💪

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“A group of boys use the tenement housing environment as a playground.” Credit: Getty Images

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“Most black men worked in service jobs cooks, waiters, janitors, bootblacks. Harlem already had the largest black population of any city in the country, but I don't remember a single black bus driver, subway worker, street sweeper, or garbage collec-tor. There might have been one or two.

In the three years that I attended public school in Harlem, I never saw a black teacher; they were all white.

You did see a few black policemen and firemen, but they were so uncommon that everybody knew who they were” (Boyd 13).

“For self-protection, you had to be a member of a boys gang in the block where you lived. It might be just for the kids on your side of the street, and right across the street might be a different gang. When you came out of the house, you generally stayed with your fellow gang members” (Boyd 14).

(The Harlem Reader, from Boyhood in Harlem)

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Archibald Motley, Nightlife, 1943. Oil on canvas

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#PopTheChampagne #DinnerIsServed #FancyWasMyName

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African American Women performing at the Cotton Club, Credit: Getty Images 

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Known as the “aristocrat of Harlem”

Founded by organized crime gang member Owen Madden

Strict, white only audience

Portrays racism as the African American performers were marketed at “exotic”

Led to many performers gaining popularity and influence such as Bojangles, Duke Ellington, Can Calloway, and many more

(“What it was really like at the Cotton Club” and “The Aristocrat of Harlem”)

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Hooverville/shantytown in New York’s Central Park, Credit: Business Insider

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Shanty towns began to be known as “Hoovervilles” as named after President Herbert Hoover

Popular during the Great Depression

Up to 15,000 residents

“From their windows, the 'Haves' may look on the humble houses of the 'Have Nots.”

Many made their temporary homes from cardboard, tin and wood scraps

(Business Insider, “Vintage photos show Central Park's Hooverville, a shanty town surrounded by skyscrapers, built by the homeless for the homeless during the Great Depression”)

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A Cotton Club program, Credit: “Aristocrat of Harlem”

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“Recruits to a New Deal reforestation service receive a meal from a army soup kitchen at South Street, New York City, 4th August 1933” (Getty Images)

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#UniqueOpportunity “While New York's thousands rush to crowded restaurants and congested lunch counters for their noon day lunch, these intrepid steel workers atop the 70 story RCA building in Rockefeller Center get all the air and freedom they want by lunching on a steel beam with a sheer drop of over 800 feet to the street level. The RCA building is the largest office building in terms of office space in the world”

(Credit for information and picture: Getty Images)

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“From 1900 to 1914—the peak years of Ellis Island’s operation—an average of 1,900 people passed through the immigration station every day. Most successfully passed through in a matter of hours, but others could be detained for days or weeks.”

Some stayed in NYC while some boarded trains to go to their final destination

Ellis Island slowed when the Emergency Quota Act was passed

1925-1954: 2.3 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island

(History, “Ellis Island: Records, Passengers & Immigration“)

Check out the Getty Images footage of immigrants leaving Ellis Island and waiting for a Manhattan ferry!

#⛴️Ferry #IveBeenThere