Politics and Activism During the Harlem Renaissance

CrashCourse

This episode of Crash Course Black American History shifts focus from the artistic achievements of the Harlem Renaissance to its profound political undercurrents. While the era is famous for jazz, poetry, and literature, host Clint Smith explains that the "New Negro" movement was fundamentally about demanding civil rights, economic equality, and political agency. The video explores how Black intellectuals and activists in the North fought against the systemic racism that persisted despite the Great Migration, moving beyond Booker T. Washington's philosophy of accommodation toward more radical demands for justice. The video contrasts two major approaches to Black liberation during the 1920s: the integrationist efforts of organizations like the NAACP and the National Urban League, and the separatist, Pan-Africanist movement led by Marcus Garvey and the UNIA. Viewers learn about key figures like A. Philip Randolph, James Weldon Johnson, Walter White, and Carter G. Woodson (the father of Black History Month), alongside a deep dive into the rise and fall of Marcus Garvey. For educators, this video is an essential tool for teaching the complexities of early 20th-century civil rights. It moves beyond a monolithic view of Black history to show the diverse and often conflicting strategies used to fight oppression. It offers rich opportunities to discuss the origins of Black Nationalism, the importance of economic independence, the role of Black press, and the nuanced legacy of controversial figures like Garvey.