Harlem Renaissance Research Paper

Words: 1667
Pages: 7

The Great Migration left millions of African Americans looking for a place to live, and a small neighborhood in New York seemed like just the place. Harlem is a neighborhood located in Upper Manhattan, New York City. A real estate crash in the early 20th century left many landlords looking to fill their homes. They looked toward the new rush of African Americans from the South, with no other options left. Seeing an area newly populated with their culture, Harlem soon became a hotspot for immigration and the Black lifestyle. The rise in population and new energy in the area led many creators and artists to create music and art that defined the neighborhood. One of those artists was about to change music in a big way and pave the way for musicians …show more content…
Long before the Renaissance, Harlem was just simple farmland in New York. After the Civil War, Harlem benefited greatly from the economic boom. The neighborhood continued to serve as a refuge for New Yorkers but soon became a hotspot for Jewish and Italian immigrants. The Panic of 1873 caused Harlem property values to drop 80%, giving New York the chance to annex the neighborhood. More immigrants continued to flow into the area and eventually, there was another real estate crash. The mass migration of Blacks began in 1904 and was aided by the efforts of Philip Payton Jr. He created the Afro-American Realty Company to help Black immigrants find the housing that landlords were struggling to find White tenants for. After a while, the Black culture dominated the area and led to many people using their talents to show others what they could create. The new style of music that came from Harlem was very different and many people started to like it. Billie Holiday took the already famous style of music and made it her