Harlem Webquest

Assignment/Activity Title— Harlem Webquest     Year—Freshman
Skill— Presentation, research      Portfolio Category— Social Awareness

During the Harlem webquest assignment I learned a lot of things about the Harlem Renaissance and the ideas surrounding it. During this project we were asked to search the internet to find out about the Harlem Renaissance. We had to find out about the history in general, the art/literature of the time, and the politics to create a brochure. We also had to read a poem in front of the class.

Before this project I knew there was a Harlem Renaissance in Harlem but I never really knew exactly what it was. The Harlem Renaissance was a time between the two world wars when African Americans felt racial pride. This pride was shown throughout art, literature, music, and politics of Harlem at the time. This was also a time when African Americans fought back against racial prejudice and tried to use intellect to show that African Americans are just as good as Caucasians. This really opened my mind to how an ideal can be presented in many other forms than just politics. Art can also be used to sway people and gives them a visual of what actually happens. Art was used to try and disprove Black stereotypes and bring together a race.

I also found out very interesting things about black history that I feel pertained to me. I found out that there were some Jamaican activists that helped in the civil rights movement. Being of Jamaican descent and being born in America gives me mixed feelings on how to react to segregation in America. It pains me deeply but I know that none of my ascendants were in such struggle. Knowing that there were some Jamaicans were in the movement helps to secure my feeling about the African American struggle. Marcus Garvey for example, I know he is a Jamaican National hero but I never knew what he actually did. After this webquest I found out that he made a back to Africa movement and fought for “Africa for Africans”. Claude Mckay was also born in Jamaica and wrote many poems during the Harlem Renaissance for black equality.

Lastly, I feel that the poem was a way to express my feelings towards segregation in America. Personally I feel as if my other classmates do not take these lessons as seriously as I do. I felt that me reading the poem Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes would help my fellow classmates know how sincerely hypocritical this country was.