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Gee, but it's hard to love someone
When that someone don't love you
I'm so disgusted, heartbroken, too
I've got those down-hearted blues
Once I was crazy 'bout a man
He mistreated me all the time
The next man I get has got
To promise to be mine, all mine
Trouble, trouble, I've had it all my days
Trouble, trouble, I've had it all my days
It seems that trouble's going to follow me to my grave
I ain't never loved but three men in my life
I ain't never loved but three men in my life
My Father, my brother and the man that wrecked my life
It may be a week, it may be a month or two
It may be a week, it may be a month or two
But the day you quit me honey, it's coming home to you
I got the world in a jug, the stopper's in my hand
I got the world in a jug, the stopper's in my hand
I'm going to hold it until you didn't come under my command

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A common theme in Harlem Renaissance paintings is the emphasis on continental Africa as the root of culture. The use of jungle and tribal scenes were idolized imagery that glorified  African American imagery. In Dougless, paintings connected African heritage with social progress. A common theme in his paintings is Africans aspiring to go to America. Below are five examples of paintings that connect African heritage with social progress by Dougless.

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Harlem Renaissance art often portrayed educated well to do African American dancing and making music or pleasurable activities.

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Shows African Americans enjoying dance and music. Breakdown stereotypes of African Americans as less than defined.

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Aspects of Negro Life: From Slavery Through Reconstruction

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Aspects of Negro Life: From Slavery Through Reconstruction

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It don't mean a thing
If it ain't got that swing
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
It don't mean a thing
All you got to do is sing
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
It makes no diff'rence
If it's sweet or hot
Just give that rhythm
Ev'rything you got
Oh, it don't mean a thing
If it ain't got that swing
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)

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Duke Ellington - It don't mean a thing (1943)

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You must take the "A" train
To go to Sugar Hill way up in Harlem
If you miss the "A" train
You`ll find you missed the quickest way to Harlem
Hurry, get on, now it`s coming
Listen to those rails a-thrumming
All aboard, get on the "A" train
Soon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem

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Shares the journey of African American people from the rural South to Industrial cities in the North. Each painting has a caption to explain the scene. Here are some examples of his Migration series.

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Uses nature to create an optimistic view on life. Shines a positive light on life and uplifts the black community during the Harlem Renaissance.

Here are two poems that uses nature to create the optimistic view on life:

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Armstrong had a significant role in the Harlem Renaissance. He paved the way to the acceptance of jazz music. He entertained people around the world and left a legacy for all jazz music.

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Refers to inner feelings and outer identity imposed by society.

Oh, I've been low, losing my head
Underwater, out of breath
Healing bruises in my brain, oh-woah
And all I want is their respect
But I can't take a compliment
It seems so stupid but I can't help it
When these voices take their effect
Oh, and I make myself, myself believe it
It's like I, I almost need it
Fighting with all of my demons, yeah
Until I'm black and blue, blue
I don't know why I do
Never seem to let it go
Until I'm black and blue, blue
And maybe I'm afraid
I can't seem to let it go
Until I'm black and blue
I've got these dreams, I've got this vision
My mind won't give me the permission
Whenever good things, they come a-knocking
All I want is to let them in
I try to make myself, myself believe it
God knows how, how bad I need it
'Round and 'round, I tear…

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Although there are no lyrics, many of his songs were instrumental. I wanted to add this song in here to show an example of a beautiful jazz instrumental that was made during the Harlem Renaissance. Without the lyrics, it feels like I am strolling around in East St. Louis having a fun time.

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Sometimes, I wonder why I spend
The lonely nights
Baby, lonely nights
Dreaming of a song
Melody my memory
And I am once again with you
When our love was new, oh babe
Each kiss an inspiration
That was long ago
Now my consolation is
In the stardust of a song

Beside a garden wall
When stars are bright
You were in my arms, baby babe
The nightingale tells his fairy tale
A paradise, where roses bloom
Though I dream in vain, oh babe
In my heart, it will remain
My stardust melody
The memory of love's refrain
Mama, mmmm, love's refrain

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Hold me close and hold me fast
The magic spell you cast
This is la vie en rose
When you kiss me heaven sighs
And though I close my eyes
I see la vie en rose
When you press me to your heart
I'm in a world apart
A world where roses bloom
And when you speak
Angels sing from above
Everyday words seems
To turn into love song
Give your heart and soul to me
And life will always be la vie en rose

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La Vie en Rose - Louis Armstrong (Lyrics)

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I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.
I've known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

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I've known rivers is probably my favorite poem that came out of the Harlem Renaissance. I took a Literary Analysis that made us read this poem. It shares the roots of the African Culture. An individual will not be able to live forever, but their culture will.

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I am the darker brother.  They send me to eat in the kitchen.  When company comes, but I laugh, and I eat well, and I grow strong.

Tomorrow, I'll be at the table when company comes. Nobody'll dare say to me, "Eat in the kitchen,“ then. Besides, they'll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed-- I, too, am America.

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I, too, Sing America shows racism being a black man in America. Hughes conveys a message that America will soon have to embrace they beauty of their culture as well.

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Photo of Palmer Hayden

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Van Der Zee was a Harlem based photographer that was know for his posed stories pictures that captured African American citizens. These pictures provide our society real life examples of real people during the Harlem Renaissance.

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Savage is an African American sculptor from the Harlem Renaissance. She was actually the first African American woman to open her own art gallery in America. Devoted her life in teaching black artist how to sculpt, paint, and draw.

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The Harlem Renaissance helped share the important stories of African Americans to help them have a place in society and contribute to culture in a meaningful way. It gave artists pride in and control over how the black experience was represented in American culture and set the stage for the civil rights movement.This paved the way into the civil rights movement that abolished slavery and the fight for equality.

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Now it is time to meet the important painters, writers, musicians, and sculptor during the Harlem Renaissance.