The Harlem Renaissance & The Civil Rights Movement: James Baldwin

James Baldwin was a writer during the Civil Rights Movement. After leaving America because of racism and living in France for a while, he came back to join in the Civil Rights Movement. One of his books about civil rights is The Fire Next Time. The first half is a letter to his 14-year-old nephew about the 100 year anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and what it means to the young generation. The second half is about the Black Muslim movement. It was a best-seller in 1963, and its purpose was to rally troops of every race to fight against the evils of racism. Like other writings from the Civil Rights Movement, The Fire Next Time gave a straight-forward view of the problems in the country and why they needed to be fixed and gave a passionate voice to the Movement.

What was the Harlem Renaissance?

1919-1930. The Roaring Twenties helped bridge the area between mere survival and culture, beauty, and creativity in the United States. The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural revolution. Black artists, poets, philosophers, musicians, and authors created their own ways to express themselves without the influence of the white population. It meant freedom of expression, creating their own identity, and making their own place in history. Musicians during the Harlem Renaissance created the first specifically American genre--jazz. Extraordinary revolutionaries were demanding racial equality in the political world through their stories, characters, and talents.

What was the Civil Rights Movement?

1955-1968. During the Civil Rights Movement, black Americans demanded their freedom from racial discrimination and segregation. Not only were decisions like Plessy vs. Ferguson challenged in court, but there were also tons of active protests from ordinary citizens who participated in boycotts and sit-ins. Direct action and honesty were the important elements in the art representing the movement, and the artists of the time were essential in bringing the issues to the forefront of American culture.

Harlem Renaissance/Civil Rights Movement

Both the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movement had the same purpose--equal rights for black Americans, but the approaches were much different. The Harlem Renaissance took an indirect approach to reaching the ultimate goal. The writers, artists, and musicians created their own means of expression and proved themselves as artists and writers of fiction. The Civil Rights Movement sought direct and immediate action. The writers wrote about the reality of society's racial issues. The photographers documented the reality of the movement, no matter how harsh the truth was. The musicians came right out and said what the problem was and how it could be fixed. While the Harlem Renaissance changed perception, the Civil Rights Movement changed legislation.

James Baldwin

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