The creation of new culture in Harlem (Music, Poetry, and Arts)

In pursuing the economic change and freedom, the majority of the African Americans decided to use the railroad system to migrate from the South to the North. The railroad system played an important role in the great migration. This was due to the convenience of the rail road system routes.  For example according to The African American “Great Migration” and Beyond” the Illinois Central Railroad provided potential migrants in Louisiana and Mississippi with relatively direct access across Chicago. For those in Georgia and South Carolina, the existing rail and highway connections made it Philadelphia, New York, and Boston more-common. The migrants went to different destinations based on their needs, but most importantly they all went to places where they can integrate themselves and be accepted by society. As the migration was growing it has turn into a chain migration. The migrants were going to places that were well built in terms of “ethno genic” support. They were migrating to places where they have family members, friends, or a strong African American Communities. For instance the presence of the NAACP (National Association for The Advance Colored People) which was a civil right organization for that was fighting the cruelty African Americans were facing. They have their headquarters in Harlem and also the churches.

In New York City, the majority of African Americans lived in Harlem during the migration. Harlem was more like heaven, a place for self- discovery. In Harlem African were able to come up with unique discoveries ranging from arts, poetry, and music especially Jazz. This has produce an immense effect in the African American community and New York City in general. Looking at Harlem in particular, the migrants were able to showcase their artistic and musical talent which will become a revolution that flourished. As mentioned in the article Harlem Renaissance Caroline Jackson explains “what made this renaissance pivotal for Afro-Americans, most particularly artists and intellectuals, was the affirmation of the distinct cultural heritage and visibility of that culture’s manifestation. It’s surprising how they were able to create their own culture and produced a musical generic that ended up influencing the musical scene in the nation as a whole. These were not easy times, they were still struggling with injustice in New York but they use the struggle to express their feelings artistically and in music which then became history.

Works Cited

Jackson, Caroline. “Harlem Renaissance: Pivotal Period in The Development of Afro-American Culture” Yale New Heaven Teachers Institute. http://teachersinstitute.yale.edu/curriculum/units/1978/2/78.02.03.x.html Web. 12 nov 2017

Tolnay, Stewart E. Annual Review of Sociology. California : Annual review, 2011. Print.