The Harlem Renaissance Gallery of Galleries : 3D Gallery

Langston Hughes’s “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”

(Riley Smith) “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” was a famous poem written by Langston Hughes at the mere age of 18 years old. The poem was published when Hughes was 19 in 1921 by a magazine known as the “National Association for the Advancement of Colored People”. The Harlem Renaissance was about creating a new, unique, and respected African American culture in the United States. “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” helps further this idea by intricately uniting popular rivers found in Africa with the most well known river in the United States, the Mississippi. Throughout the poem Langston Hughes continually refers to this idea of “rivers” and how they have been used and viewed throughout his life. This poem puts many different areas of the world into conversation with one another and is relatable amongst all African Americans with slave ancestry. Similar to other artists of the time period, Langston Hughes was trying to write something that can bring together the African American people through a common denominator, their past.

Countee Cullen’s “Incident”

(Riley Smith) Born in New York City, Countee Cullen grew up to be an extremely educated man, passing high school with ease and earning his Masters in English from the University of Harvard. Cullen furthers the creation of an African American culture during the Harlem Renaissance by exposing the treatment of African Americans in this “free” country. Cullen explains in his poem that throughout his entire multiple month stay in Baltimore, the only thing he remembers was the racial slur thrown at him on a bus. This goes to show the lasting effects that prejudices towards African Americans can leave on a person. Similar to other artists of the time period, Cullen pulls from his own experiences to portray a common idea or experience among African Americans in order to help unite the African American community.

Langston Hughes’s “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”

(Riley Smith) “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” was a famous poem written by Langston Hughes at the mere age of 18 years old. The poem was published when Hughes was 19 in 1921 by a magazine known as the “National Association for the Advancement of Colored People”. The Harlem Renaissance was about creating a new, unique, and respected African American culture in the United States. “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” helps further this idea by intricately uniting popular rivers found in Africa with the most well known river in the United States, the Mississippi. Throughout the poem Langston Hughes continually refers to this idea of “rivers” and how they have been used and viewed throughout his life. This poem puts many different areas of the world into conversation with one another and is relatable amongst all African Americans with slave ancestry. Similar to other artists of the time period, Langston Hughes was trying to write something that can bring together the African American people through a common denominator, their past.

Duke Ellington

Harlem is known for its great relation to jazz music, and Ellington had a great influence on the people and the genre itself. Ellington was born to two talented, musical, middle-class parents in April of 1899. At the age of 7, he began practicing the piano, where he earned the nickname “Duke.” Mr. Ellington was awarded an art scholarship to the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, for his musical talent. Yet, Ellington followed his passion and began to play music professionally at the young age of 17. He first played in New York in 1923, then moved into Harlem the same year. As a jazz composer and master pianist, he played in big bands in popular clubs, like the Cotton Club. Him and his sextet performed in broadway nightclubs, and later expanded to a 10-piece ensemble, then to 14. In total, few can rival him as the greatest composer ever.

Lois Mailou Jones; "The Ascent of Ethiopia"

(Zach Seaman) Lois was born in Boston in 1905. When younger, she trained at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and published her first painting at 17. She became the only African-American female painter of the 30's and 40's to achieve fame across the country and overseas. In 1928 she was hired by Charlotte Hawkins Brown, and founded the art department at Palmer Memorial Institute in North Carolina. While improving her own artistic work, she became known as an outstanding mentor as well. Her work was full of references to black history and her own ancestors, and Jones felt that her greatest contribution to the art world was "proof of the talent of black artists".

Louis Armstrong’s West End Blues Created in 1928

(Jack Hanlon) Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans on August 4th, 1901. He was raised by his mother and lived in a very dangerous neighborhood. Louis Armstrong only received a fifth grade education before dropping out of school to go to work. After Louis was arrested in 1912, he was sent to Colored Waif’s Home for Boys, where he learned to play many instruments. After leaving Waif’s Home in 1914, he set his sights on becoming a professional musician. Louis Armstrong became one of the most well-known jazz artists during the Harlem Renaissance after living in New Orleans, Chicago, and Mississippi. One of Armstrong’s most famous songs during the Harlem Renaissance includes “West End Blues”, created in 1928. “West End Blues” was very influential during the time period. The instruments included in this song are: Trumpet, Clarinet, Trombone, Piano, Percussion, banjo. Solo's allow the other instruments to play a part in it. Armstrong’s long phrases give way to furious pitches of notes, invigorating syncopations, shrieking high notes, and, ultimately, the slow melodic shuffle of the tune created one of the best jazz songs during the Harlem Renaissance. This song inspired many other African Americans to emulate what Louis Armstrong achieved, which was respect amongst more people all over the world and success. This song relates to the message of the Harlem Renaissance because it gave African Americans pride for their culture and inspiration to add to the legacy of the their culture as well. Armstrong got some help when his great friend and long time composer Joe “King” Oliver composed the song for him. Armstrong, along with others inspired young artists from poor backgrounds by relating his own background in his music.

Duke Ellington’s “I Must Have That Man” - 1928

(Jack Hanlon) Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, was one of the twentieth century's most well known African American musician and was considered a jazz legend by many during the Harlem Renaissance. Duke Ellington was born on April 29, 1899 in Washington D.C. to a family of musicians. His father and his mother were both pianists. In 1923, Ellington moved to New York with some of his friends from his hometown. They formed a group named The Washingtonians and Ellington was the leader. In 1927, they were hired to work at the Cotton Club. As they became more well known, they got broadcast on the radio and spread their music across the whole nation. The fame and fortune they received gave Ellington the chance to create and compose more unique music for settings in the ballroom, nightclub, theater, concert hall, and cathedral. He later also created his own jazz orchestra for which he also composed pieces of music for. In 1928, Ellington and his band created the song, “I Must Have That Man”. The message of song relates to equal opportunities for blacks. This song unites the black community to advocate for equal opportunities. The combination of the trumpets and piano playing creates a somber mood. The trumpet playing is very important to the melody of this particular song. The Harlem Renaissance also united the black community. Ellington’s lyrics express the feelings of longing for equality. Ellington, along with many other popular African American artists during the time made attempts to unite the black community with jazz music. Ellington collaborated with William Thomas Strayhorn for nearly three decades, who was Duke’s lyricist/composer.

Liberty Leading the People

Liberty Leading the People is a painting by Eugène Delacroix commemorating the July Revolution of 1830, which toppled King Charles X of France. [more]

Original Manuscript of Langston Hughes’s “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”

Ophelia is a painting by British artist Sir John Everett Millais, completed between 1851 and 1852. It depicts Ophelia, a character from Hamlet, singing before she drowns in a river in Denmark. [more]

The Music Lesson

The Music Lesson or Lady at the Virginals with a Gentleman by Jan Vermeer, is a painting of young female pupil receiving the titular music lesson. [more]

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The Harlem Renaissance Gallery of Galleries

Langston Hughes’s “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”

Countee Cullen’s “Incident”

Langston Hughes’s “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”

Duke Ellington

Lois Mailou Jones; "The Ascent of Ethiopia"

Louis Armstrong’s West End Blues Created in 1928

Duke Ellington’s “I Must Have That Man” - 1928

Liberty Leading the People

Original Manuscript of Langston Hughes’s “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”

The Music Lesson

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