The Art of Writing and Revision

Content Objectives

Framework for Understanding

I chose the Harlem Renaissance for this unit because it brings students the opportunity to learn about a rich time in African American/American History. There are many incredible artists to study, so choosing a favorite should not be too difficult for them. Students will read culturally rich writing samples to gain information about the artist's culture. Other resources, such as videos, photographs, and artwork, will also be available for student use.  After reading the text, students will receive a daily journal prompt based on their reading and research.

Students will read and collect information from several sources. The text from our school unit is “The Harlem Renaissance,” by Matthew Gollub.¹² The students will also have access to books such as What Was the Harlem Renaissance?¹³ by Sherri L. Smith, Harlem Stomp¹⁴ by Laban Carrick Hill, and The Harlem Renaissance History for Kids: The Flourishing of African American Art, Music and Literature (books for curious kids),¹⁵ by Victoria Barrington. These titles and more are available in our classroom library. Students will also have access to different media sources for information.

My classroom is made up of predominantly marginalized students. It is imperative to be culturally relevant in my teaching practices so that all students feel represented. Many students do not understand the concept of racism and segregation. They do not believe that in the United States of not too long ago, our classroom would not look like this. Teaching students about history is just as important as reading and writing.  This unit will take place during Black History Month. We will celebrate the men and women who helped to form an art movement and share our knowledge with the school community. I am hoping these lessons will make an impact on students that last a lifetime.

Harlem Renaissance

“If you’re going to be poor anyway, it’s better to be poor in Harlem.” – James Baldwin

From 1910 until the early 1920’s there was a Great Migration of African Americans from the South to the North. Many of these immigrants found themselves in New York—Harlem in particular.  The driver of the migration was a lack in jobs and opportunities. The South was segregated, and African Americans were working for white households and landowners. People were sharecropping and making little to no money working on other people’s land. Southerners started to get frustrated that they were still deemed second-class citizens. At the same time, in Harlem, New York, a new community of artists was developing. Jazz was in full swing. The 1920s were called the Age of Jazz. But other art forms and artists were beginning to rise up through the city’s art community. Harlem was booming with new people, new life, and a culture that would shape the way we would look at art for many years to come. Exploring this topic will show how this movement was able to bring a community together regardless of race.

Musicians

The following is a list of musicians and singers who are found in the text sources we will be reading. Below is basic information that students will have access to about each artist. The art forms are in order as they appear in Gollub's Harlem Renaissance. Students will jot down information they learned about the artists in short sentences and daily  prompts during reading and re-reads. Students will also have the opportunity to watch videos and listen to music by these authors. ² Students will create anchor charts that notate the different art forms and artists to create an organized resource as they read. Students will be able to extend their learning through organized events outside of the classroom.

Cab Calloway:¹⁶ 1907-1994. Cab Calloway was an African American Big Band leader during the Swing Era. He was a great musician and overall entertainer. Calloway and his orchestra were one of the regular bands at the famous Cotton Club in Harlem. He was a composer and a scat singer. Calloway was also an actor and appeared in movies.

Duke Ellington:¹⁷ 1899-1974. Duke Ellington was an African American pianist who was famous for his compositions and Big Band jazz sounds. He led his band for over 50 years. He composed hundreds of songs. Ellington and his band were also regulars at the Cotton Club in Harlem. Ellington was an actor, singer, and talented musician.

Louis Armstrong:¹⁸1901-1971. Louis Armstrong was an African American musician considered to be one of the most influential jazz musicians in history. He was a band leader, an incredible trumpeter, an actor, and a composer. Armstrong had a big influence on musicians of the time. One of his most famous songs is: “What a Wonderful World.”

Bessie Smith: ¹⁹1894-1937. Bessie Smith was one of the greatest African American blues singers. She was known as the “Empress of Blues” and did not like to use a microphone when she sang. Smith appeared in a short film in 1929 that was based on her song, St. Louis Blues.

Poets / Writers:

When we begin to learn about poets and writers, students will use their works as mentor texts. We will read the poem “Harlem,” by Langston Hughes. Excerpts from the play Cold Kenner, by Zora Neale Hurston^,, and “Storm Ending” by Jean Toomer. Students will workshop these pieces and describe the difference in writing styles and language.

Langston Hughes: 1902-1967.²⁰ Langston Hughes is one of the most famous African American poets and writers to emerge from the Harlem Renaissance. Hughes found inspiration for his writings in the racial injustices suffered by African Americans. His writing reflected his advocacy for civil rights.

Harlem, by Langston Hughes²¹

Jean Toomer: 1894-1967²² Jean Toomer was an African American playwright, poet, and novelist. He had fair skin that allowed him to pass through both African American and White communities. Toomer was an activist for civil rights, and this is apparent in his writing.

“Storm Ending,” by Jean Toomer²³

Zora Neale Hurston: 1891-1960²⁴ - Zora Neale Hurston was an African American writer and folklorist who celebrated African American culture in her writing. She would tell her stories at parties to entertain guests. Hurston was a novelist and playwright.

Cold Keener by Zora Neale Hurston²⁵

W.E.B Dubois: 1868-1963²⁶ W.E.B. Dubois was an African American author, editor, civil rights activist, and sociologist. He was one of the founders of the NAACP. Dubois was considered a racial upriser and was followed by the FBI.

Visual Artists:

These visual artists that students will learn about are painters, graphic artists, and photographers. Students will have the opportunity to view works by these artists. There will be an opportunity to try to recreate some of their artwork.

James Van Der Zee: 1886-1983²⁷ James Van Der Zee was an African American photographer. He is revered for the captivating portraits he took. Van Der Zee worked predominantly out of photo studios. He is said to have captured the Harlem Renaissance photo by photo.

Romare Beardon 1911-1988 ²⁸ Romare Bearden was an African American artist and photographer. He captured the lifestyle of African Americans in his paintings and photographs. He is considered one of the most important and influential artists of the 20^th Century.