The Capital of Black America
Can you ever imagine living in a time when the blacks were completely separated from the whites? Think of all of your close friends and maybe even relatives that are black, and seeing them being treated as if they were worthless. All of this changed during the Harlem Renaissance. People such as writers, artists, and musicians solely believed that Harlem should be a place for Africans to express their culture without being judged by white people. So in this paper, I will explain how Harlem became the place known as “The Capital of Black America.”
Harlem was known as the place to go to for blacks during this time period. African Americans were not taken seriously or recognized in their work or culture, and it was hard for them to get a job. Also, the lack of wealth resulting from slavery made it necessary for most blacks to live in poor neighborhoods. This explains why blacks came together to express their …show more content…
As a result, many African Americans began moving to Harlem. Between 1900 and 1920, the number of blacks in the New York City neighborhood doubled. They brought with them not only the institutions and businesses necessary to support themselves, but a wide range of talents. The area soon became known as “The Black Mecca” and “The Capital of Black America.”
A new way of playing the piano called the Harlem Stride Style, was created during the Harlem Renaissance, and was a major line between the poor blacks and the higher blacks. The traditional jazz band was mostly brass instruments and was considered a symbol of the south, and the piano was considered an instrument of the wealthy. Innovation and liveliness were important characteristics of performers in the beginning of jazz. Jazz musicians at the time were very talented and competitive, and were considered to have started the foundation for future black