why harlem so important?

Studying the Harlem Renaissance is still important today because it makes one cultured and see the world in a broader spectrum. The Harlem Renaissance was a since of rebirth for african-americans and other races as well. Harlem is a piece of New York City that had been talked down for most of life, and now is making a comeback, I was interested in the history of it since i first visitied it a few years ago. I see Harlem as the most colorful, vibrant, and interesting place in all of New York City. I feel it is important to know what the place came from, what drove it up and what once the city lights glared down brightly upon at night. The harlem renaissance has many authors that had such important pieces of literature and examples of exempelary work to look after. Many of the authors of the Renaissance were inspiring to me. I never have been able to connect to poetry as i was able to in this class and i can thank african americans of the harlem renaissance for giving me something meaningful and interesting to break down. I think it is important to see the difference in work from that time period and today, and to see how literature can be timeless. The hardships of yesterday should not be forgotten so we can appreciate what we have today; the literature we read can help us achieve this. The success stories of the harlem renaissance are the stories of real people who made a name not only for themselves but for their race as a whole. The Harlem Renaissance teaches us to be unselfish, stick up for ourselves and our races, to be different, to embrace who we are, and to enjoy what we love. The Harlem Renaissance teaches us about America, in history, and the present. The Harlem renaissance is also a component to learning , knowing, and having a multi-multi culturally tiered knowledge base on life.

THird pos: Their Eyes were watching GOD! Z.N.H.

So I guess the people were watiing to see waht GOD was going to do> that exxplains the title of the book. In a really dramatic and the most heart pacing part of the book, Janie and Teacake decide to stay home when everybody else went to hit higher ground. The Seminoles were heading somewhere else adn that should of been a clear indication that a bad storm was coming. Once the storm started it was almost too late. I really got into this part of the book, i couldnt put it down. As Janie and Teacake and choo choo or whatever their friends name was headed for higher ground they were plunged into a storm not worth underestimating. The religious symbolism was great and showed the ture power of nature/GOD over man.


The book proved to be surprising enough. I kept to reading and really never became bored as was the cae with every other book we have reead and analyzed this semester. I cant say i was too surprised with anything because i was expecting the book to have many twists and turns. I dont know if i expected Janie to kill Teacake, but that is what went down. There was irony in this as Teacake died from going mad or getting rabies from being bit by a dog. Janie killed Teacake who was mad from something he had saved her from. I think this was terrible because Jnaie had picked up Teacake's gun under his pillow and she could have unloaded the bullets. She decided to load him with a couple rounds of buck shot instead of being safe, she was sorry. The courts let her go probably because she was half white looking. I was glad they did, but wonder what the they would have down to a darker afrtican american. The author twisted the book here because half way through you ahd a half a mind to think that teacaek was going to take Janie for her money, or that he was going to gamble it away, become a drunk or end up left by Janie. Poor Janie... she had such a hard life---symbolic of the hardships african american women faced? Im glad the book didnt end on Janie going to Jail.

Secon Pos: Their Eyes Were Watching- Zora N. Hurston

As i was reading i began to wonder bout the title of the book. I guess that everybody is watching Janie in the book. Everybody is wondering waht she is going to do next. She isnt explained to be the most beautiful girl in the world but everybody is so taken by her. Its also hard to get the meaning out of the book so far. I wonder what the author is trying to prove and I almost turned to the last pages of the book to see if I could derive anything from it. I stopped myself and decided to wait, but realized I really liked what i was reading so far. I questioned the meaning and figured it must have something to do with Janie being light skinned, like some of other books have related to-- Passing and Autobi0.- Whatever the case this book is really enjoyable. I have gotten past the dialect pretty good now, I have done an analysis but assume that it has lightened a bit? After Jody passed maybe Teacake has Janie speaking in a lighter tongue? I dont know maybe its just me getting used to the dialect and processing it alot of faster, but im not really even noticing it much.

The book has done a good job in bringing about emotion. Ups and downs. it was a feel good story about the mule bought. it was like a man buying another man out of slavery and letting him relax after so many years of hard work and torment-it was symbolic of this to me.
but As Janie and Jodys relationship fizzled and came to an end I really started to feel bad. I also felt before as Jody contiually mocked Janie and apparently lost his appreciation for her. Its a common thing though, for someone to take out whats wrong with them on someone else. Jody was getting fat and dying.... or melting away, detoriating whatever you want to call it, so he took out his fears about himself on Janie--trying to make it sound like she was no longer a Spring Chicken when in fact it was him who was the one aging faster. He was trying to cover up his thoughts and feelings about himself by taking it out on her... This was sad to read about. It got sadder when Joe and Janie lost their realtionship and pretty much stopped talking towards the end of his life. I guess he was embarassed with himself and felt bad about he treated her.--some people just cant swollow their pride and apologize. He was dying from physical ailments and this process was sped up by his inner turmoil.

As Janie moved on kind of quickly it was apparent she was at peace with Joes death. She wasnt dissatified with her life though up to taht point- Joe had made her a wealthy woman and taught her many life lessons. Joe had also saved her from her first husband who had her all chained up. She needed the relationship with Joe to come out and grow . Her identity was able to come through after his passing and this identity was shaped by her past.

When teacake came into the picture I wasnt surprised, because this was foreshadowed in the ebigning of the book. I was surprised at the relationship Janie was able to develop with him. Did she really find a true love? I wonder about this as i continue on reeading, although it is definetly the best of her relationships so far. She is having fun and is allowed her own space. She is allowed to be herself and to do as she chooses, you must respect teacake for giving her this and not being too controlling. I have to wonder as goes her past relationships whether this one who fade as well. For now it appeears pretty good though--besides the fact that Teacake is such a gambler and stole the money from Janie that one time. I wonder how he could do such a thing and wonder if he was honest bout the story... DId he just go out and gamble it away? Or did he really throw a fried chicken party? Janie is love struck and believes anything this guy will say. it doesnt go into detail about the look in his eyes or whether she contemplated his words as truthful--it jus says she takes it for what it is. She is enthralled with teacake and having a good time.. She doesnt think hes out to take her for everything and the author leads the reader to believe this as well--with a bit of suscipion though. I bet Hurston could drop a surprise, you cant put it past her.

Their Eyes Were Watching...Zora Neale Hurston..

The first 50 pages of Zora Neale Hurstons bopok Their Eyes Were Watching was pretty enjoyable to me. The qoutes or dialogue as some may call it was a bit distracting and slowed the reading pace doqwn, but added to the authenticity of story. The language is that of southern blacks of the time period, and can relate to that of Ebonix today. To think about the words aloud or to simply sound them out is a simple strategy to work through them without having to go back. The dialect looks uncomprhendable at first, but they are really simple once broken down. Fausette introduced this a bit back when we read Mary Elizabeth.

As far as the story goes, Zora, like many other authors goes to shock value when 16 year old Janie is called in by her Nanny to find out how she came about. It is terrible to find out that she is the child of a rapist, and an alcoholic rape victim who gave up on her. She was raised by her grandmother or nanny who knows she is gonna die soon and wants to rest in peace knowing her kin or granddaughter is protectedand taken care of. Is she a bit senile her though? I wonder if the grandma really wants the best for her daughter if she just wants the continued pain of the family to live on. She basically sells her grandaughter off to a man she doesnt care for or know. AN older man who is established with "60acres" but who knows how he will treat her.

When Janie was under the pear tree in that particular scene before her Nanny called her in she was a girl. The pear tree and spring and the buds signified the scene of life before maturation. I thought of the scene as pollination momment in Janies life... when first reading it i thought she was going to get pregnant, and when she kissed that guy i still thought so. But i found it out it was her maturing into a women--perhaps permaturely as nature so goes sometimes. She was forced into marrying Mr. Killicks against her will.. and her youngness and immaturity are shown as she allows the trap to happen, as she ponders the thought of marriage equating love. She becomes a women none the less, even though an immature one.

Down the road comes Joe. Everything happens for a reason I guess, as Mr. Killicks is out for the day. Soon joe convinces Janie that he will treat her better and she thinks about leaving Mr. Killicks that night, leaving with Joe that morning. Her thinking presumes to be a bit more mature this time, as she thinks to two sides of a situation--if joe isnt there to take her, she is at least making the change she needs for herself-- this allows her to not be deathly dissapointed and convinces herself that she is indeed makign the right decision to leave, despite Mr.killicks advice that she wont fidn antything better out there.

So far everything seemed to shape up well for Janie in her new all black town. Her husband is the mayor, store owner, and makes quick money being a propietor and real estate agent. The last part of the reading doesnt talk much about Janie but more about Joe gaining power and confidence. The last part of the reading describes another character contemplating the way Joe is treating Janie. The treatment of Janie is rationalized as "they must understand each other" I wonder if something if foreshadowed here.// has Janie really found love or did she just need a ride out of Mr.killicks town?

Overall the reading has been fun for me. I like the story, although i dont like the pace that i have to take sometimes beacause of the dialogue. The story has taken something interesting turns so far. Lets see what kind of twists can occur ...and i think there will be some because of Janies heritage, past and the fact that most stories we have read end up twisting...

Langston Hughes , what a wonderful world

I see trees of green........ red roses too

I see em bloom..... for me and for you

And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue..... clouds of white

Bright blessed days....dark sacred nights

And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world.

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky

Are also on the faces.....of people ..going by

I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do

Theyre really sayin......i love you.

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow

Theyll learn much more.....than Ill never knowAnd I think to myself .....what a wonderful world(instrumental break)

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky

Are there on the faces.....of people ..going by

I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do

Theyre really sayin...*spoken*(I ....love....you).

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow*spoken*(you know their gonna learn A whole lot more than Ill never know)

And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world

I Posted that song "What a Wonderful World because i kept hearing it play when i was reading a bunch of Langston Hughes work. I really like his upbeat attitude and his sweetness as opposed to the negativeness and sour/bitterness of some of the other poems we have read by Cullen, Mckay, Toomer etc. It seems that Hughes can accopmplish with his positivness what every other writer wanted to accomplish in a negative tone. I like the broad spectrum though it allows for good appreciation of the readings; being every writer we have written has a either distinctly or fairly differnt style.

My favorite poem is "The Negro Speaks of Rivers". This is how i like to think of heritage... although mckay had some good ones too..I like how Hughes takes you to the places he speaks of... the euphrates, congo, and the nile and allows the mental pictures to be drawn without overwhelming the reader. The simple terse and vocal upbeat tone draw the reader in. I also feel like this poem is for africans because of the reference to african places, however being white i feel application to myself as well. "My soul has grown deep like rivers" from all the experiences i have gone through. Hughes poems are for the larger audience, even if most other authors wanted to reach out to a black and white audience, none of them relaxed;comforted; invited me to read like Hughes did.

In "The South" Hughes speaks of how the south has spit in his face; his peoples face. He talks of the ups and downs. The south is so inviting to him, like a girl he thinks is sweet that turns out to be a whore. He wants to love her but she would cheat on him, hurt him and treat him like shit. "Idiot brained"--- reminds me of the ignorant dumb slave watchers that think they are so much better than the slaves, but are really lazy and just as important evenless important than the slaves to the plantation owner.. expendable.

hughes says "he is who is black" "would give many rare gifts to her" --speaking of the south, "but she turns her back on me". too bitter for his liking, so he has to leave the warmth of the south to head to the "cold faced North" to "escape the spell" of the south.

He says the north is "akinder mistress" which means shes nicer,but not his wife--the south which he was married to just caused him so much pain--he had to get away from her-from it

Hedraaws the south as a woman and i can relate to that.

Another one that i was more than a bit fond of was "Mother to Son". Hughes speaks of a mother that uses the walk up stairs; stairs with tacks and splinters and nails, as a metaphor for life. She--the poem and the mother are inspirational to the son. life is not easy, and climbing the stairs will make u a stronger person. "and reachin a landin's" "and a turnin' corners" theres unexpected parts of the stairs, unpected twists in life. the future has not happend yet and cannot be expected to happen in any way shape or form. It will be dark in som

e areas and light in others. She tells her son " dont you set down on those steps" "dont you turn back" because in life you have to stay ahead, and the mother continues to climb for herself and her son, so he must do the same.

"on these i stand" proclaims cullen

Reading over Cullens contributions to the Harlem Rennaissance I find that he seems to be the most emotionally turbulent out of all the authors we have read. I guess I could best place him next to Mckay as to one he was most related to, however he poems are more bitter. Cullen has a unique style, that was at first very enjoyable to me. As i continued to read I became a bit disgusted however. Most of the other authors we have read have kept me refreshed throughout, and inspired at that. With Cullen as I finished up I was thinking his words were good, but a bit evil, made me feel a little sick to my stomach. Its not that i thought it was bad poetry as it was a good contribution to black art, however I believe that Cullen was using religion as a scapegoat for his plague. It appears that Cullen was depressed, and his work is not a reflection of this. I think I am going to do a fact sheet on Cullen so i can find out more about his life. I dont like that he doesnt write anything (at least in this collectin of poems) that is innately positive. I think this is what disturbs me the most, than again it might be the fact that it seems to me he continually mocks Christ. I am a christian and although i hardly ever go to church i feel strongly that christianity is something that shouldnt be mocked or poked at.

I got going with Heritage, it was very catchy. I liked it very much, found it easy to read and understand. It appears Cullen is upset that he doesnt have a true tie or feel for his roots. As he speaks of Africa he talks of it like a long lost ancestor with which he has very little in common. He is almost critical of Africa but knows he has the blood running through him and some things (such as being naked in the jungle) are things he feels he would like to do. Is this why Cullen is so negative and can "find no peace" I am not sure.

It also appears that Cullen was hurt by one person or another in a personal relationship. I wonder if it was a guy or a girl because Mrs. Wells had said she believed he was Gay . If he was hurt by a girl maybe this is why he thought he was gay and he had so much turmoil in his life. Or maybe he was hurt by another male--but that should be expected in a relationship such as that because its hard to put puzzle pieces together that dont fit. All in all i find that he blames god for all his problems. Is he a christian and will god forgive him? I dont know. I dont know if Jesus was black or white or brown but that shouldnt matter and I doubt Jesus would like the questioning of why.. with this religion it is supposed to be what it is and not questioned. Cullen takes pokes at everybody/everything he did more methaphorically so it is hard to say what exactly he was feeling or thinking; what was sarcastic, realistic, concious and subconcious. Whatever it was.... he stands on it.. but is he even sure why?

i CERTainly was very critical of Cullen, but i was impressed b y his writing style. I also must note that his vocabulary was great and he gave me some good words to look up on the internet for definitions and thesauraus entries.

Passing Brownies

The last part of Passing could be expected I guess. I felt that something might happen to Clare the entire book to cover the element of irony. The author did a good job in many senses by leaving much for the reader to mull over. I was left wondering a few different things, I myself dont like to assume things, I kind of let the mystery just stay the way it is in my head. I wonder if the author even knows exactly what they are trying to hide. Do you think that when an author leaves things up for the reader to decide... does this author have a clear of idea of what they had happend in their head? I mean does the author of Passing wantt us to believe that Clare and Irenes husband Brian had an affair? Does she want us to think that the Irene killed Clare? I dont know about this. I am wondering about Clare and Brian more than I do about if Irene killed Clare. I find it interesting that Brian didnt care much for Clare at first... didnt even want her to go the Ball and than was suddenly having dinner with her alone. This bothered me a bit. If it bothered Irene about Clare than she should have cut it off, told her husband to stay away from her. Period. Its hard to understand Clare and Irene's relationship... the big question we debated in class over. Irene obviously cannot stick up for herself. Clare obviously cant shake her devilish side. In the end if i were to make an honest guess i would have to blame the husband who called her "Nig" for Clares death. I think he simply startled her and she fell, Irene was a putting a protective hand on her, and accidentally gave her a push when she was startled and off balance. And i think that Clares husband knew about her having black in her, he just never had it admitted to him and thats why he messed with it. Im sticking with that despite his alleged surprise of finding out. He maybe wa smore surprised that he actually did find out for sure, froma firends mouth than not knowing at all.

In the Brownies Readings I find it good that there was a childrens publication for African Americans. TOo bad this publication was only for african americans. I understand that the black youth needed someting positive to look at, but why not give something that blacks and whites could relate to. I know that is too good to be true for the time period, i guess i would just have to live than to understand how things were different. I have trouble sometimes believing that absolutely no one would give africans americans a chance back than. I mean their had to be somebody that thought about this before the harlem renassiance? Maybe not and i am not thinking realistically for the time period. I just get a bit carried away. Its the same way i Fell about BET tv and black history month. Do white people have a white history month or a White entertainment channel? No they dont, but some would argue that is because every other month and channel are for whites. WHen i look at it that way i understand, i just think that BET should have some white people too, intergration. Is there an all black college down south? Grambling? Brown? I dont know if white people can go here, but from my point of view there should be integration on these fronts as well. Getting back to the Brownies Magazine... I liked ost of the material although some of the stuff was hard to grasp. I guess they were promoting the uplift of blacks, and starting at the bottom with the children was the best way to instill the proper values and implants of positive esteem. My favorite story out of all of the poems and stories was the one with Dolly. I think this story can be read by anybody of any color and teach a good moral lesson. It teaches children to proud of what they are and to be careful what they wish for... A real life example of Dolly is Michael Jackson... except he wasnt dreaming!