Roaring 20's
...al and wonderful people leading them towards the freedom of rights. W.E.B. DeBois, and Marcus Garvey were such leaders. William Edward Burghardt DuBois at age fifteen became the local correspondent for the New York Globe. From his position at the New York Globe, he decided that it was his duty to push African Americans forward by lectures and editorials concerning the African American people. After high school, DuBois attended Fisk College. This was the first trip DuBois had ever taken to the South, and when he got there it became evident that there were color issues. In those few years he attended Fisk he became more knowledgeable to the color bar, and more belligerent. Consequently DeBois became a writer, editor, and an impassioned orator who influenced the African American people greatly (Gerald C. Haynes). Marcus Mosiah Garvey was a radical activist who went out and did everything in his power to fight against the racial discrimination that was going on at the time. Garvey, in 1914, founded and became the Christian leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association or U.N.I.A. The U.N.I.A. was organized to improve the lives of black people everywhere. Marcus Garvey inspired millions of African Americans to take pride in their heritage (www.seemeonline.com). When a large number of African Americans caught on to the idea of showing pride in their arts, styles, and beliefs they (their arts, styles and beliefs) became familiar scenes in the lives of many Americans. The Harlem Renaissance was a time for the blooming of African American arts, including: literature, theater, entertainment, music, dance, sports, visuals, and many more. During this time many African American women, (i.e. Mary Burrill, Florence Mills, Adelaide Hall, and Anita Bush), were making some exciting and extraordinary achievements (Darlene Clark Hine, 223 vol.9). When thinking about the theatrical arts during the 1920s and 30s, Florence Mills comes to mind. Florence Mills was born in 1896 to ex-slave parents. Mills had always been credited for her gift of dance, and in 1921 she landed the leading role in a play called, Shuffle Along. Her role in this play made her famous, and she went on to do many more wowing plays and to be the guest star in many “old-school” television shows (www.arches.uga). Also in 1921 Anita Bush stared in The Crimson Skull, the first black western film (Darlene Clark Hine, 223 vol. 9). During this time, there were many “firsts” being done within the theatrical arts, Florence Mills and Anita Bush is just naming a couple. Even though the Harlem Renaissance was the blooming of African Americans stepping into all sorts of arts, the art of music seemed to stand out in the time. In 1919 a woman by the name of Nora Douglas Holt seemed to stand out. She in fact founded the National Association of Negro Musicians (287 vol. 5). The N.A.N.M. is the oldest organization dedicated to the preservation, encouragement and advocacy of all African Americans with their music in the world. This association is still in full, and is helping the African Americans, who wish to excel in music, the opportunity that they...