The Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement that blossomed in the early 20th century, stands as a testament to the resilience and creativity of Black Americans during a time of profound social and political change. From 1918 to 1937, Harlem became a vibrant hub of artistic expression, where writers, musicians, artists, and thinkers reshaped American culture. This period not only witnessed the flourishing of jazz, poetry, and visual arts but also saw the rise of a new identity that embraced self-expression and pride. Through the lens of photography, the era is immortalized, capturing moments of defiance, beauty, and everyday life that reveal both the struggles and the triumphs of a community on the verge of transformation. Here are 20 photos from the Harlem Renaissance.
1. That’s a modern-looking sign for the early 1900s.
Dinner for $1.50? Count me in.
2. She’s in her element.
You can genuinely feel her happiness.
3. Now these kids are ready for school.
They’re definitely going to be the best-dressed at school. I just wish the girl on the right was as happy about it as the other two.
4. He’s the coolest cat on the block, and everyone knows it.
What an awesome collection of hats.
5. That’s one stylish crew.
I love the one guy sitting with the kids on the sidewalk.
6. Alfonso Schomburg among his fellow Masons, 1922.
Schomburg played a huge part in preserving art and culture from this time.
7. These young men are posing in zoot suits taken from a formal wear shop in Harlem.
I’m not a huge fan of the zoot suits, but these boys can pull them off.
8. This takes some serious skill.
I wonder if he could actually play them both at once.
9. The founding members of The Girl Friends Inc, 1927.
This is one of the most prestigious social and civic clubs in Harlem. It was established by college women during the Harlem Renaissance.
10. The Cotton Club Band, 1925.
You can tell this crew had everyone dancing.
11. That looks like it’s going to hurt.
Whatever dance move this is, try to avoid it from now on.
12. Readers at the 135th Street branch of the New York City Library, 1920.
This branch is celebrated as one of the most important spaces in the Harlem Renaissance.
13. Harold Jackman, ‘The Most Handsome Man In Harlem’.
Harold emigrated from London to America, establishing himself as one of the most respected men of the Harlem Renaissance.
14. I’d do anything to go back to live music like this.
You can tell these two could light up a room.
15. Langston Hughes at Lincoln University, 1927.
He was known as one of the best jazz poets ever to live.
16. Harlem Renaissance superstar Josephine Baker.
Yes, she is indeed walking a pet cheetah.
17. The style of this time was nothing short of extraordinary.
The difference in looks from then to today is jarring.
18. Alain Leroy Locke, The Father of the Harlem Renaissance.
He risked everything to fight for rights for everyone.
19. Josephine Baker, 1930.
Josephine was involved in the Harlem Renaissance before moving to France, where she became a world-famous supermodel. She was a spy in the resistance and then a civil rights leader in the 1960s.
20. The dinner party that started the Renaissance.
I’d love to be a fly on the wall at that dinner party.
