The Harlem Renaissance

With a Jim Crow south alive and well, many black Americans migrated north. This migration resulted in the formation of a creative urban hub in Harlem, New York, and the Harlem Renaissance became a time where black Americans flourished creatively.
From writing to art, blues to jazz, a once suppressed black community greeted this newfound freedom by cultivating artistic expression in ways they were prohibited from doing before. Visionaries like Duke Ellington and Zora Neale Hurston thrived during this cultural revolution, and the Harlem Renaissance symbolized the power of the freed black mind in America.
In this episode of Black History in Two Minutes or So hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr. - with additional commentary from Farah Griffin and Brent Hayes Edwards of Columbia University, and author and journalist Isabel Wilkerson - we look at a new generation of black people whose bold commitment to artistic expression will forever live on.
Archival Materials Courtesy of:
Alamy Images
Everett Collection, Inc.
Getty Images
Executive Producers:
Robert F. Smith
Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Dyllan McGee
Deon Taylor
Music By:
Oovra Music
Be Woke presents is brought to you by Robert F. Smith and Deon Taylor.
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[@vg2448]

I heard very little about this when I was in Middle and High School. Black history was barely touched, only tiny tidbits here and there. Learning about this stuff in greater detail as an adult makes me happy, its great learning about all the history I missed. It gives me a greater understanding and appreciation of people and their accomplishments.

[@mrblackrider3142]

W

[@Jedi_Black]

So real, it’s very important.. 🎯

[@NoahBodze]

The reason why is because blacks weren’t wanted in a Harlem they didn’t build in the 1920s and they proved the white people who didn’t want them right by the 1940s. Look at what blacks people do to places they could never build. They don’t mention it because look at what they do. Everyone knows blacks will destroy any place where their representation is over 7% because they have. Repeatedly.

[@zxannybanani6953]

My history class is trash so I’m figuring things out on my own-

[@AEvans-bg3kf]

I'm here thankful for Maya Angelou's books. She's absolutely wonderful. We so need more people like here today more than ever. Thank for sharing this video.

[@stcphxp]

pov: youre here because of english class

[@waabmigizi7369]

History for me

[@ultrakurd1549]

History 🙄

[@stcphxp]

@@ultrakurd1549 have fun

[@GilCruz-qz8tb]

History bud.

[@zzskvlls]

LA for me, haha.

[@lordmaster745]

Pov:ur here for an assignment

[@tibo5548]

+1

[@5starrtrey440]

Same

[@reeses5212]

HoodVlogs brought me here 👅👀

[@Ryan_Russey-Thyes]

Yeah

[@tristonmiller3189]

Mr vogals class

[@clxxped7897]

Here for history class

[@Therealmoseslupai]

I learn more from watching african and black history on here then I ever did during my school days. Harlem is rich golden history. Thanks for this video.

[@jorammwai1201]

The narrator brings in a breath of fresh air. He makes history super super interesting.

[@sharonkaysnowton]

I love the black American writing, music, and art of the Harlem Renaissance. You see some of the greatest films with black actors in them. Yes, I know they had low characters in those films, but, they were great films. The writers were some of the best writers of the time. Thank you for this video. I truly enjoyed it.

[@MikeyB.Gaming]

I’m 32 y/o man and I’m here just because I watched birth of hip hop first. Now I’m subscribed and going through all the videos

[@Kitty_bandida22]

I think jazz is very beautiful. It has a beautiful sound too

[@judygarland7611]

More complicated than you think. The knowledge required is stunning musically. Just saying. Genius that has been lost on our youth. They're clueless.

[@foxpad6400]

PROUD OF ALL OF US TOGETHER BUILDING A POSITIVE LOVE HISTORY

[@amanda7646]

POV: everyone in the comments said english and history but no one said music 👁️👄👁️

[@serynity9194]

Ikr I’m doing this for my hip hop class 👁👄👁

[@Gabemccracken126]

im here for chior

[@angelking9173]

No one said art-...

[@JhaneTheLady]

I forgot about that

[@michaela1541]

No ones said Medi Studies

[@marydavis8012]

I teach Junior ELA and my first unit is on the Harlem Renaissance! I'm so excited to share this with my class!

[@katierundzieher9630]

Can't wait to use this video in my intro lesson for a Langston Hughes unit! Very middle school friendly and well made!

[@scoffe8751]

yeah fr katie

[@courtneywalton3451]

I'm using it tomorrow too!

[@_pinkilo_]

Wow, this video is nothing but facts, helped me understand more on the Harlem renaissance

[@charlita25]

Wow 😮 we are amazing 🎺🎺🎺

[@sebastiansanchez2579]

Great video, using this in my class

[@SuzanaMantovaniCerqueira]

Amazing blues, jazz works ! The black music were wonderful !! Congrats black people ! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Go ahead again ! Make a beautiful work culture again !

[@ngmusic2873]

was originally here for CUET but became a fan of their music. Specially the lady at the beginning who is singing.

[@MaryGary-m7t]

I like looking at videos like this on my own, I don't get how you're forced to watch this

[@anitawatkins954]

Harlem is still a beautiful place. I love Harlem

[@kelliobrien6176]

Thanks for the great, informative, quick video to show my class during a Harlem Renaissance lecture and discussion!

[@NoahBodze]

Did you end up asking why a few junkie blacks writing woe-is-me poetry about the white people who built the cities around them to what happened in Europe, the ACTUAL Renaissance?

[@Lpement]

What's with the blackface on the left corner @1:05?

[@galaxyghost892]

Wtf

[@JodySoul]

Yea I was thinking the same. SMH

[@whatthehec6736]

Read up on Jazz history a little more. There were actual Black Face bands during the period of Jazz as well. (I didn't mean that sarcastically or rudely). I took a history in Jazz course and wow, there was so much to learn. There were times of blatant racism still as well.

[@cullenjones2815]

I would guess its because of the Jim Crow laws at the time, but maybe it's a guy who just, in general, looked really similar to blackface (although that's highly unlikely)

[@authnielcineus8700]

Stuff like that creeps me out

[@anthonyj748]

pov: here for black history month English class

[@its_zodiak2573]

Yep

[@tibo5548]

+1

[@shotafogus8971]

history for me

[@Rob_03]

Watching this for us history class✌🏾

[@roronoa_zoro968]

Everyone: Pov: Blahblahblah Me: This video is 3 mins, but they said in 2 mins nevermind, they said 2 mins or so

[@annette1913]

LMAOOOOOO

[@dawnalexander9366]

Using it to introduce a new lesson on Hughes "Thank You Ma'am" , for an intro to the time period in general.

[@justinhebert5155]

Interesting video, this sounds like an amazing time in black history.

[@Gloroxsocks]

so cool

[@doubleo_dark]

ya like jazz

[@martymar9311]

Thanks for this info 🎉

[@yahiralonso6785]

I didn’t know much about the music artists or knew the people beside Louis Armstrong now I know Duke Ellington mamie smith and Bessie smith

[@shanewright2772]

Duke is Ellington is one of the few genuine geniuses of American music, and quite possibly first amongst peers.

[@yangquinn]

Awh I’m here from my History homework ;0;

[@memetrafficker69]

This video really helps visualize how the Harlem Renaissance was

[@geoffreybudge3027]

Really well done ! “To imagine what we could be) , wow.😊

[@nikolasbuell8141]

y’all juniors? what grade y’all in

[@TheYoungReezy87]

POV: you’re here cause school never taught anything important to your community

[@LifeOnTheROC]

jacques I am here because of school

[@thursoberwick1948]

Nope. I'm not black and not American, so this is not my community.

[@citizenx4750]

We are that people

[@thebadstation8416]

Used to be... Liberalism sort of destroyed our culture. Now we are known for gang and hood culture. We need more conservativism in our community.

[@Vibewitjay8579]

POV: you’re here because of your English class

[@thursoberwick1948]

Nope. I'm not American

[@porgiepuddinandpie]

pov: youre here because youre a teacher creating an assignment

[@rhamy131]

if your here bc of school say i

[@LUV477]

keep up the great work I love the videos. share share share on all platforms :)

[@Nasamusa]

Damn, if only we continued on this path.

[@maureencora1]

2023 100 Years Ago, a Great History.

[@JohnCarter-s2u]

I'm trying to learn more about the owner of this video. Does anyone know who has the rights to this video of Selma Burke? Thank you!

[@connor5806]

Ms. Foster’s APUSH class

[@aids1477]

Here because of AP English Lit

[@sylviepoodle]

Does anyone know how to get in touch with Black History in Two Minutes? We are interested in using this video in a digital curriculum and would like to talk to someone about permissions. I have had no luck finding any contact info. Thank you to anyone who might be able to help me.

[@johnsomn2148]

Did you try the National Museum of African American History in Washington DC. For Jazz you might want to try what information the State of Louisiana, Nashville, TN has.Most of people making the music of the Harlem era came from the south. ❤

[@royaltmusicc]

#johnnymusicpressit 🔥🔥🔥 Bronx Rennisssance

[@QuarkGamingLLC]

This is facinating and all but the fact is that A RED SPY IS IN THE BASE

[@ToxIc-xz2jh]

Here cuz gotta write an essay about this ☠️

[@Danny093]

UZIEL SENT ME HERE!!!

[@Ilyshrek]

Who else is watching this for a class O-O smh

[@lilchasedown]

History class

[@Ilyshrek]

Murda P same lmao

[@DKrems]

isnt everyone

[@carterbaileyswim]

:POV you history teacher sent u here for a “graded” assignment

[@kahmakazie3733]

I'm here because I heard immortal technique say it in a song and I wondered what it was.

[@BobDuerr]

POV: Social studies teacher sends you this saying it is 100% of your grade

[@laylawilliams2237]

I’m here for reading

[@franklinlett1223]

Please tell me if a serialized extension of this short film has been produced and where can it be found?

[@authorofdespitetheoddsmill7743]

Amazing

[@idocringe7191]

Nobody else is here for art🙂🙂😐😐

[@maxrocha6891]

Wow

[@JustMe-ub1yy]

Does it matter that you're here for class? Why not be respectful and atleast act like you care, and not act like you're being forced to watch🙄😐

[@jessicam.4777]

Yeah, it’s very weird. It’s intentionally dismissive as well.

[@Ari_Hazel2026]

I’m here for AMI on snow day

[@jonahjenkins22]

POV: You are here for American Literature with Fortier

[@MatheoDubois-e3b]

Lets go le cours d'anglais mais heureusement qu'il y a les sous titres

[@amadisdee6054]

No denying the immense contributon that Americans of African heritage contributed to making the UNITED STATES a great nation, but it is unfortunate to state that such credit has not been entirely recognized by white America at large. While many enlightened white Americans have stepped forward to give merit points to our African Community, these have always been in the minority. This is noticed in such things as, when do we ever see a street named MARTIN LUTHER KING in a white neighborhood? When do we ever hear white kids enthused about reading novels written by major black writers? Where are the monuments around the United States to black (wo)men of science, literature, sports, politics? There are odd ones here and there but not in the measure which such a prolific and artistic community deserves.

[@KuijperRob]

its something interesten..I was Born in Haarlem..a beautifull city in the Netherlands..my love fot Black music is always I cant explain..Maybe i feel connected from minorities..through i had no reason..i have a Black soul in a white body!?guess it has more swing and i react on rhytm played well!

[@mateogreenough501]

Fire!!!

[@gameexpert2011]

I'm actually here for my literature assignment lol

[@gasmaskguy1]

I'm here for social studies

[@gasmaskguy1]

Who else is having to watch this for school purposes

[@jerinvoudrie7388]

I’m here from theatre... 🎭

[@Quizler123]

two minutes?

[@lilchasedown]

Thats what im saying they say its 2 minutes but its 3 minutes

[@fifiben7320]

Interesting

[@authnielcineus8700]

POV: anyone else here for research class

[@jollyelmroot]

What?

[@drewandolive5454]

I'm doing this for english, my recommended section is about to be ruined.

[@jollyelmroot]

At least it’s educational

[@JazzyAmbitions]

2:04 -2:25 2024.....😎

[@steezyhispano801]

pov: youre here because of history class

[@maestill6387]

POV: Ur saying how does everyone know... future abilities...

[@0ksammy]

im here for spanish class-

[@collinbishop6401]

POV I’m here for history

[@Terry_596]

Who else is here for an assignment?

[@aaronmohammed5398]

I’m here cuz of history class💀

[@KM-hw1rt]

How long before Latinos began the narrative they created jazz and played a part in the Harlem renaissance 😂

[@benjaminvisbeen5113]

hi Chris

[@potatocasseroli]

POV: you’re here bcz you just wanna learn about black history

[@da_flish]

POV ur here in jazz class

[@dani-po6sz]

had to watch this for dcush ✌🏽

[@noahfusek1499]

My English teacher brought me hear😳

[@diaryhome4943]

Kinda ironic lol. You used the wrong "here." Sorry. It's a huge pet peeve of mine when someone uses the wrong version of a word.

[@malisaac6439]

@@diaryhome4943 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@d4lgang717]

my scinece teacher brought me here . :(

[@aarondigby5054]

You have a great English teacher: the Harlem Renaissance was the most transformative, creative musical arts phenomenon to spread through America's culture. 1) the magna Carta 2)Spanish inquisition 3)protestant reformation 4)Harlem Renaissance

[@divinityhawkins8403]

I here just bc

[@andrewbayot9178]

pov ur here from clayton valley

[@slickback5100]

How black people lived before Jews came to New York

[@thebadstation8416]

C'mon man you don't gotta do this. There are good and bad people in every group.

[@naviabya50]

POV: u r here from history. Bc I am

[@chelsea8781]

hi guys

[@charlotteguillossou6081]

Here bc of my english's class lmao and u

[@Shasha-qx2dl]

Hi

[@marcusblacknell-andrews1783]

🎷🎺🎷🎺🎷🎺🎷🎺🎷🎺🎷🎺🎷🎺

[@richardbeaux2348]

Great country HAITI USA.

[@arty_twist]

POV you are here because english class