How Did Dubois Become The Harlem Renaissance

782 Words4 Pages

William Edward Burghardt (W.E.B.) Du Bois fought for immediate racial equality. He was strongly against the Jim Crow Laws and believed that they were completely unjust. W.E.B. Du Bois encouraged many blacks to move up north, to escape the harsh conditions they faced in the south, arguing that blacks would have a better chance at success up north. A lot of African-Americans took Du Bois advice and moved up north, in what would be called the Great Migration, making Du Bois a key contributor of what would become the Harlem Renaissance. The Great Migration was the migration or relocation of blacks from the rural South to the more urban North. The Migration was caused by African-American frustration with racism, oppression, and the inability to achieve success in the rugged South. When they finally settled up North, many African-Americans discovered that they had shared some of the same terrible experiences in the South. Rather than reminiscing on the injustices they faced in the South, many took this chance to really embrace their culture. The Great Migration was essentially the start of the …show more content…

These artists reinvented American music entirely, and contributed to the music realm we are so familiar with today. Harlem’s Cotton Club served as a breeding ground for black artists to come and showcase their musical talents, and in many cases gain popularity and fame. But, many African-American artists despised the club due to its segregation laws and policies that prevented blacks from attending the club, unless they were performing. However, the club is still credited with producing the legendary careers of Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Langston Hughes, and Billie Holiday, artists who have all of had a significant influence on today’s black artist and