Hughes' poetry celebrated Black culture at a time when many people looked down on it. By writing about "the beauty and the ugly" of Black life, he showed that Black people were proud of their identity and would not be silenced by segregation.
"I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother."
THE JAZZ COMPOSER
Profile 06
A legendary jazz pianist and composer who wrote over 1,000 songs! He led a world-famous orchestra and changed the way the world listened to American music.
Ellington broke barriers by performing in places that usually didn't allow Black musicians. He wrote music that told the history of Black Americans, proving that Black art was sophisticated, powerful, and worthy of respect.
"Music is my mistress, and she plays second fiddle to no one."
THE BUILDER OF SCHOOLS
Profile 07
He founded the Tuskegee Institute, a college that taught Black students skills like farming and building. He became a powerful advisor to Presidents of the United States.
Washington believed that if Black people became highly skilled and economically strong, segregation would eventually end. He worked quietly "behind the scenes" to fund legal battles against unfair laws.
"Character is power."
THE CULTURAL STORYTELLER
Profile 08
A brilliant author and anthropologist who collected folklore and stories from Black communities in the South. Her most famous book is Their Eyes Were Watching God.
In a time when many stories about Black people were negative, Zora wrote about the joy, intelligence, and rich culture of Black communities. She fought segregation by showing the world that Black life was beautiful and complete exactly as it was.
"How can any deny themselves the pleasure of my company?"
THE JAZZ AMBASSADOR
Profile 09
Known as "Satchmo," he was the most famous jazz trumpeter and singer in the world. He invented new ways to play music and became a global superstar who performed in movies and on radio.
Armstrong used his fame to demand better treatment for Black Americans. He famously criticized the U.S. government when they were slow to integrate schools, and he often refused to play in his own hometown until they integrated the concert halls.
"What we play is life."
THE RHYTHM MASTER
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The highest-paid Black entertainer of his time. Known as "Bojangles," he was a legendary tap dancer and actor who starred in major Hollywood films and on Broadway.
He was the first Black performer to go on stage alone (without "blackface" makeup) during a time when rules forced Black actors into groups. He used his money to fund schools and insisted that theaters allow Black and White people to sit together.
"Everything is Copasetic."
THE RADICAL POET
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A Jamaican-American writer who became a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance. His poems and novels reached readers all over the world, describing the pride and pain of Black life.
McKay’s poetry was a "call to action." When Black communities were attacked, his famous poem If We Must Die encouraged people to fight back with dignity. He used his writing to demand respect and challenge the violence of segregation.
"Like men we'll face the murderous, cowardly pack, Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!"
THE VISUAL HISTORIAN
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One of the most famous painters in American history. He is best known for his Migration Series, which uses 60 vibrant paintings to tell the story of Black Americans moving North for a better life.
Lawrence’s art made the invisible visible. By showing the hardships of Jim Crow laws and the hope of the Great Migration in major museums, he forced the art world—and the public—to confront the reality of segregation and the resilience of Black people.
"I wanted to show the beauty of people, the beauty of the struggle."
Spotlight Figure
Langston Hughes
- Leading poet of the Harlem Renaissance.
- Wrote "I, Too" and "The Negro Speaks of Rivers."
- First African American to make a full living as a writer.
Hughes used his poetry to fight segregation by celebrating Black culture. When laws tried to make Black people feel like "second-class citizens," he wrote about the beauty and intelligence of his community. He claimed his place in America by saying "I, too, sing America."
[Student draws a golden pen breaking a chain]
"I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother."
Spotlight Figure
Madam C.J. Walker
- First female self-made millionaire in America.
- Invented specialized hair products for Black women.
- Built a huge company that employed over 3,000 people.
She used her money to fight segregation by donating to schools and organizations like the NAACP. By giving Black women good jobs, she gave them the power to be independent and stand up for their rights in a world that tried to keep them in low-paying work.
[Student draws a briefcase with a dollar sign and a schoolhouse]
"I got my start by giving myself a start."
