Brother to Brother

        Brother to Brother is a movie written and directed by Rodney Evans that was released in 2004. The movie is about a gay teen, Perry, who is struggling to find a place to fit in a society that rejects him for both being black and gay. He is joined during the movie by an older man who later turns out to be famed Harlem Renaissance poet Bruce Nugent. Together they explore the lives of past black creators and artists through a series of Nugent's flashbacks to the 20s.

         Although the Harlem Renaissance started more than 80 years ago, the themes associated with the Harlem Renaissance are still prevalent in many societies. Brother to Brother is an example of how these themes carry through the generations and can be used to describe people even today. The first person who exemplified this in the movie was Jim, Perry's classmate in his black studies class. Jim expressed anger at racism, one of the Harlem Renaissance themes. As well as being homophobic, Jim passionately expresses discontent with the way the police and government treat black. He argues that racism is still a major problem in the United States, citing the fact that there are many more blacks in jail than any other race and the plethora of police shootings and beatings of black citizens. 

        Another Harlem Renaissance shown in Brother to Brother is that of the desire to redefine the meaning of the term "negro." In this movie, this is shown both in the timeline during the 20s and Perry's present day in 2004. While Nugent, Langston Hughes, Zora Neal Hurston and Wallace Thurman all fight for acceptance into black society during the 20s for their unflinching views on black life, Perry fights for acceptance as a gay and black man. Throughout the movie he is essentially told "you can either be black or gay, but not both." Fighting this is Perry's way of defining the new negro. He wants people, including in the black community, to change their ideas about what a black man is allowed to be. By fighting for acceptance into his own society, Perry demonstrates the Harlem Renaissance theme of desire to reconstruct the meaning of the term "negro."

          The final theme from the Harlem Renaissance this movie shows in modern times is identification with race. This is also shown in then parallels of Nugent's life as a younger man and Perry's life. In Nugent's time, he and all others involved in the controversial magazine Fire strongly identified with the black community. Fire revolved around the contemporary issues in black life at the time, and although they were not accepted by most blacks at the time, the authors of Fire still saw themselves as part of that community. The case is the same for Perry. Because he's gay, many of the blacks in the movie rejected him and claimed that he had no place in black society. Despite his rejection, Perry still identifies with the African race, showing an even stronger commitment to it than those who are easily accepted. 

         Through all of these ways, it is clear that the themes of the Harlem Renaissance transcend generations and remain prevalent even today.

Chain Gang

          This painting is titled Chain Gang and was painted by Harlem Renaissance artist William H. Johnson. Chain Gang is about blacks in jail and what they had to deal with, as shown by the prison uniforms and pick-axes. It was painted in 1939, and shows a few of the struggles that blacks were facing at the time.
          The first theme this painting shows is determination to fight against oppression. Johnson has painted the men in classic prison garb, which could represent the institutionalized and jail-like oppression forced upon blacks at this time. Their various tools show how they are willing to fight against oppression and work towards a better future.
          Identification with race is also a theme in this painting, which is shown by the way in which he painted the men. Their clothing blends them all together, and it is nearly impossible to tell where one man begins and the other ends. This creates the idea that this group of men are a bonded unit who identify with the same thing.
          I first saw this painting as an example in class, and knew I wanted to use it for my blog. I thought it would be an interesting painting to analyze, because of how many themes it includes that I could talk about. I like the use of strong, bold colors and simple figures that draw you into the painting.

It Don't Mean A Thing

Lyrics:

What good is melody?
What good is music?
If it ain't possessing something sweet

It ain't the melody
It ain't the music
There's something else that makes this song complete
(Bo dolled dolled do da...)

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing
(do Do a Do ap...
Well it don't mean a thing all you got to do is sing

It makes no difference if it's sweet or hot
Just give that rhythm ev-ry-thing you got YES

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing

It don't mean a thing
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing boy

(Ba ba doo dah doo,)

I said it don't mean a thing and all you got to do is sing

(La la la,)

Now it makes no difference if it's sweet or hot
Just give that rhythm ev-ry-thing you got OHH
It don't mean a thing boy, if it ain't got-a-that-a-swinga

Doo Wap

         It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) was written and originally performed by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Mills. This song is mostly about fun. The main refrain (it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing), shows the fun-loving attitude of this song. He is calling others to let loose and enjoy life. If something isn't swinging and fun, he claims that it "[doesn't] mean a thing."

          The main theme shown in this song is one of determination to fight against oppression. Since the whole song is about fun, it shows how blacks at the time weren't letting themselves be depressed or down-trodden. Society had not accepted blacks as equals at this time, and instead of getting caught up in this and wallowing, this song celebrates the good in the situation. By simply having a good time, Ellington is fighting against the people keeping him down.

          I love this song. It's extremely catchy and I have fun listening to it, as the main message of the song encourages. I knew this song previous to this assignment but rediscovered it when looking through classic Harlem Renaissance songs. I find it quite good. 

Jeunesse

      This painting is titled Jeunesse, by Palmer Hayden. Jeunesse is about the newness of people's situations during the Harlem Renaissance. The title, Jeunesse, resembles what could be a feminine version of the French word for young, jeune. It is also about the joy that can be found during difficult times, as shown by the dancing and pastel colors in some areas in contrast to the dark pallet of the painting as a whole.

        The first Harlem Renaissance theme shown in this painting is the desire to reconstruct the meaning of the word "negro." As I previously said, the title of the painting means youngness, which illustrates the idea of reconstruction and redefinition perfectly. Also, the couple in the front are cast in light, apposed to the couples behind them who are clumped together and painted with dark colors.

        Another way the desire to reconstruct the meaning of negro is shown is the way in which the front couple are dancing. Their movements are bigger and more flowing than the older couples behind them. They are more free and have the room to do what they like, where the couples in the back are cramped and dancing in a restricted traditional way. This could also be seen as an example for the theme of determination to fight against oppression.

        I quite like this painting. When I was designing the look for my blog I knew I wanted a painting from the Harlem Renaissance as my background, and I found this one. I liked it so much I used it both as my background and as one of my pieces to analyze. I find Jeunesse calming and inspiring.

The Jazz Singers

        This painting is called The Jazz Singers by Archibald J. Motley Jr., a Harlem Renaissance artist who painted this is 1934. This painting is about the connection of a community through song and music. The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural Mecca for blacks, and this painting illustrates that by depicting African-American men of all different shades and economic situations, as shown by the variety of clothing.

      The first theme expressed in this painting is identification with race. The men are wearing all different types of clothing, suggesting that they are of different backgrounds and economic means. Despite this, they all have their mouthes in the same shape, singing the same song. While the men have different features to themselves, they are connected through their singing of the same song.

        Another theme expressed here is determination to fight against oppression. The men seem to be yelling in song, and most songs during this area had to do with the social liberation of blacks. They have come together in this painting in order to raise their voices and call out for redemption and acceptance among whites.

          When I googled "Harlem Renaissance art" this painting was in the search results. My eye was drawn to it because of its striking composition and use of darks and lights. I like this painting quite a bit both because of its visuals and the messages it conveys. 

To Be Young, Gifted And Black

Lyrics:

To be young, gifted and black,
Oh what a lovely precious dream
To be young, gifted and black,
Open your heart to what I mean

In the whole world you know
There's a billion boys and girls
Who are young, gifted and black,
And that’s a fact!

You are young, gifted and black
We must begin to tell our young
There’s a world waiting for you
Yours is the quest that’s just begun

When you feel really low
Yeah, there’s a great truth you should know
When you’re young, gifted and black
Your soul’s intact

Young, gifted and black
How I long to know the truth
There are times when I look back
And I am haunted by my youth

Oh but my joy of today
Is that we can all be proud to say
To be young, gifted and black
Is where it’s at  

To Be Young, Gifted and Black was performed by Nina Simone with lyrics by Weldon Irvine. Although it was written in 1969 and not during the Harlem Renaissance, it carries many of the same themes as the Harlem Renaissance. This song is primarily about (surprise) being young, gifted and black, and what that means in a Euro-centric society. You can easily tell this from the central refrain, "to be young, gifted and black." Simone is celebrating the "billions" of black youth with unbound talent, and telling them not to back down from their gifts and talents. She says that "there's a world waiting for [them]" and that their "quest[s]" have only just started. 

          The theme of the Harlem Renaissance that most shows through in this song is pride. She even states, "we can all be proud to say to be young gifted and black." Even though this song was written in the 1960s, when blacks were still fighting for equal rights, this song illustrates an intense passion and pride in black culture. It also shows the theme of identification with race. Simone uses the collective "we" in this song, showing a strong connection with her race, while celebrating the happiness of being black and gifted.

         I chose this song because I think it is perfect for this project because of how clearly it illustrates the Harlem Renaissance themes. I have the Donny Hathaway   cover of this on my iPod, and when I looked it up to use for this project I saw that the original was done by Nina Simone. I quite enjoy her music, so I chose to use her version.