Questions

Career

Connections

Works Consulted

Harlem Renaissance

Connections: Billie Holiday's music is important because...

* Both African-American and white people listened to her music - and still do today.
* The lyrics of her songs and the story of her life made/make people think about the African-American experience.
* Some of her songs were about topics that were off limits in the past: slavery, lynching, and racism.
* She communicated a sense of racial pride.
* Her work helped/helps people feel empathy toward others.

Possible Connection to the Harlem Renaissance

Music that became popular during the Harlem Renaisssance reflected the African American experience. It had a positive impact on the broader culture. This was a new trend. This fact created a sense of pride for African Americans and was potentially threatening to some white people. Acceptance by the broader culture meant more work (and money) for African American artists. The popularity of the artwork and music of the Harlem Renaissance both reflected and created a growing middle class of African Americans.